No. 1 seed, Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark captured the championship at the 2010 Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, Japan, by defeating No. 7 seed,
Elena Dementieva of Russia, 1-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Caroline had something to prove this year, because she had lost her opening matches in both of her previous appearances at this event. This year was different, as she lost only seven games en route to the semifinals, then added back-to-back three set wins in her last two matches, first defeating No. 8 seed, Victoria Azarenka in the semifinals 6-2, 6-7(3), 6-4, then Elena in the final.
Elena took total command in the beginning of the final, cracking winners off both wings and barely giving Caroline any looks in the 28-minute first set; the No.2-ranked Caroline steadied herself from the start of the second set however, eventually beating Elena for the fourth time in seven career meetings. Elena double faulted the last two points of the match.
2009 US Open finalist Caroline is now 11-7 in WTA singles finals; she won at New Haven, Montreal, Copenhagen, and Ponte Vedra Beach this year, and reached the Indian Wells final. Caroline has a 54-15 singles match record this season.
2008 Olympic gold medalist Elena is now 16-15 in WTA singles finals; she won at the Paris Indoor and Sydney this year, and reached the final in Kuala Lumpur. Elena has a 38-15 singles match record in 2010.
Caroline also earned enough ranking points so that if she reaches the quarterfinals next week in Beijing, she will become the #1 player in the world for the first time in her career. She has that opportunity, and she is only 20-years-old!
