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ZHUHAI, China — German Julia Goerges tamed American CoCo Vandeweghe 7-5, 6-1 in the final of the WTA Elite Trophy to claim the biggest title of her career on Sunday.

Second seed Vandeweghe got an early break and breezed to a 5-2 lead in the opening set before the German staged a brilliant comeback.

The seventh seed, who won the Kremlin Cup in Moscow a fortnight back, broke back while the American was serving for the opening set and went on to win it 7-5.

Vandeweghe won only one of the last 12 games in the match as the 29-year-old pinned her with a barrage of winners while dropping just one point on serve in the second set.

Goerges was simply unstoppable in the second set and she completed the victory with a crosscourt return winner on her second championship point.

The 29-year-old screamed in delight after completing a stellar year in which she won two titles and reached five finals.

“I can’t imagine a better ending to the season, two titles in two weeks... this is the biggest one,” Goerges said after receiving the trophy from her compatriot and 22-times singles Grand Slam champion Steffi Graf.

“I’m just happy. I think I have not really any words to describe right now. I think I still can’t believe it... It’s just amazing,” said Goerges.

“I’m looking forward to next year,” she added.

It was the ninth win in a row for Goerges, who hit 21 winners compared to her opponent’s 18 during the one hour 20-minute match.

The German, however, managed to keep her unforced errors to just nine while Vandeweghe had 22. Vandeweghe was also not helped by six double faults on her serve at crucial situations.

Despite the loss Vandeweghe will finish the year in the top 10 for the first time while Goerges will rise to a career-best 14th.

The tournament’s 12-player singles field featured the leading players on the women’s tour who did not qualify for last week’s WTA Finals in Singapore while one wildcard was awarded to China’s top-ranked player Peng Shuai.

Asked how she felt about receiving the trophy from tournament ambassador Graf, Goerges said it was “a very special moment”.

“I think she was very happy to give the trophy to a German player,” she said laughing, adding that the exchange, which included getting a picture, “was probably worth it more than millions”.

Goerges had enjoyed a smooth road to the final, seeing off Slovakia’s number one Magdalena Rybarikova, top seed Kristina Mladenovic and Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova — also in straight sets.

Meanwhile, former World No. 1 Graf on Sunday said Serena Williams can “absolutely” surpass Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles if the American returns to tennis after giving birth earlier this year.

Williams has not competed since winning the Australian Open in January but the 36-year-old posted several videos on social media showing her hitting balls during her pregnancy.

Williams was about two months pregnant when she captured her 23rd Grand Slam singles title in Melbourne, one short of the all-time record held by Australian Court.

“Absolutely, yes,” Graf told fans and reporters ahead of Sunday’s WTA Elite Trophy singles final in Zhuhai. 

“I think a lot of it is determined on her drive and if that is what she wants to do.”

Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles which was eclipsed by Williams in January.

Williams told Vogue magazine in August about her “outrageous plan” to defend her title in Australia, where the year’s first Grand Slam will be played from January 15-28.

“It sounds from what I hear that she is looking to come back to tennis and, you know, everything that she has shown over her career just makes you believe that if she has that in her sights then she will go after it and achieve it,” Graf said.

AMMAN — Jordan plays Iran on Monday in their second match at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) qualifiers currently under way at the Prince Mohammad Stadium in Zarqa.

The Kingdom beat Palestine 2-0 in its opening match as Iran held Syria 1-1 in the other Group E match.

The continents’ 43 teams have been split between East and West Asia into groups of five or four teams with the top team from each group and five second-placed teams advancing to the AFC U-19 Asian Championship.

Jordan which qualified to the Asian Championship four times and reached the FIFA Youth World Cup in Canada in 2007, aims to advance to the Asian Championship again this year after failing to qualify to the 2014 and 2016 championships.

The team finished fourth in 2006, but exited the first round in 2008 and 2010 and reached the quarters in 2012. 

The squad played the UAE in two friendlies in Dubai last month in the final phase of preparation tying them twice 1-1 and 0-0. 

On another note, Jordan’s U-23 team in high gear, is set to play three friendlies in preparation for the 3rd Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Championship in 2018 as well as the qualifiers for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

During their current training camp, the team will face the senior national squad on November 7 in Aqaba before twice facing Jordan Professional Football League club That Ras.

Jordan advanced to the AFC U-23 Championship from Group E qualifiers in which they finished second behind Palestine. Oman moved from Group A, Iraq and Saudi from Group B, Qatar and Syria from Group C, Uzbekistan from Group D, Australia form Group F, North Korea from Group G, Malaysia and Thailand from Group H, South Korea and Vietnam from Group I and China and Japan from Group J.

Earlier this year, Jordan’s U-16 team qualified to the 2018 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-16 Championship after topping Group A qualifiers. Jordan joined group winners Tajikistan (Group B), Iran (Group C), Iraq (Group D), Yemen (Group E), North Korea (Group F), Indonesia (Group G), Australia (Group I), South Korea (Group H), Japan (Group J). Oman, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia moved as second placed top four teams.

Organised by the AFC, and held once every two years for Asian U-16 teams, the competition also serves as a qualification tournament for the FIFA U-17 World Cup, with the top four countries qualifying. Iraq is the reigning champ. Since the event kicked off in 1995, North Korea, South Korea, Japan, China, Saudi Arabia and Oman have each won the title twice. Qatar, Iran, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Iraq won once each. Jordan failed to qualify to the 2016 AFC U-16 Asian Championship.

Manchester City’s all-conquering season reached new peaks as Sergio Aguero became the club’s all-time top scorer with a decisive goal in a thrilling 4-2 victory at Napoli that put them into the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday.

The Argentine struck his historic 178th goal for City, which took him past Eric Brook’s landmark, in the 69th minute to help settle a magnificent contest between the English and Italian league leaders.

Headed goals from City’s unlikely central defensive strike force of Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones either side of halftime had seen Pep Guardiola’s side overturn a 21st-minute lead deservedly given to the Serie A leaders by Lorenzo Insigne.

Yet after Jorginho had equalised with a penalty just after the hour, Aguero’s predatory instinct ensured City were not to be denied in their bid to become the first English team to win a European match in Napoli’s forbidding San Paolo Stadium.

Raheem Sterling sealed the triumph in injury time, leaving City, now unbeaten in 22 matches, on a perfect 12-point haul in Group F, qualifying for the last 16 with two games left while Napoli face elimination on just three points in third place.

It was a victory that once again underlined how City, with their panoply of thrilling talent, look like genuine contenders to lift the European Cup as their performance showcased real heart as well as quality.

It was fitting too that an historic goal from their talisman Aguero should decorate the night, with City’s captain Vincent Kompany hailing him as a “true legend”.

“I’m very happy for this moment because it’s a one-time moment,” a delighted Aguero told BT Sport.

“We must keep going the same way now. It’s a long season and we must continue the same way.”

The second clash between two sides who had started the game with 86 goals between them this season always promised to be richly entertaining but City showed real steel in coming from behind for the first time in 13 games to beat Napoli for the second time in a fortnight.

Napoli, after dominating the early stages, went ahead by slicing apart City’s defence with the same slickness that Guardiola’s side have themselves been demonstrating all season in the Premier League.

Insigne charged down the left flank, took out two defenders by forging a swift one-two with Mertens and beat Ederson expertly from close range. 

City moved gradually into a higher gear, though. Aguero came close to the record-breaking goal but soon after, in the 34th minute, Otamendi muscled in at the far post to head home Ilkay Gundogan’s pinpoint cross from the right.

With momentum having changed completely, Stones headed against the bar and three minutes after the break another of his rocket headers struck the underside of the bar with goal-line technology confirming it had crossed the line.

It was the England defender’s third Champions League goal of the season — more than any of City’s attacking jewels.

Napoli were far from finished as Insigne hit the woodwork himself with a fine strike and when Leroy Sane brought down Raul Albiol, Jorginho converted coolly from the spot.

The defining passages of play saw Ederson make a wonderful save from Jose Callejon before a lightning break from Sane ended with the ball falling to Aguero, who finished in the ruthless fashion that has seen him compile his tally of 178 goals from just 264 appearances.

Those moments in particular left the excellent Insigne lamenting afterwards: “There is so much regret. It’s an unfair result for what we did. It is regrettable because we have put down the strongest team in Europe for much of the race.”

As the game continued to throb from end to end, the final word went to Sterling who struck from close range after being freed by the brilliant Kevin de Bruyne. The win ensured City’s qualification for the knockout stages for the fifth season in succession.

Brazilian-born Ukraine international Marlos scored twice as Shakhtar Donetsk came from behind to beat Feyenoord 3-1 in their Champions League Group F clash at the Metalist Stadium on Wednesday and take a giant step towards the second round.

Sevilla survived a late scare to beat visitors Spartak Moscow 2-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday, avenging their heavy defeat in Russia and getting their last 16 qualification hopes back on track.

Liverpool were rewarded for their patience as they eventually overcame some resilient defending from Slovenia’s Maribor to win 3-0 at Anfield in their Champions League Group E match on Wednesday.The result leaves Juergen Klopp’s side top of the group on eight points — one ahead of Sevilla and three clear of Spartak Moscow — and a win in Seville in the next game will secure their place in the last 16.

AMMAN  — Former champs Wihdat are closer to the lead but still trail Ramtha ahead of Week 8 of the Jordan Professional Football League which kicks off on Thursday.

Ramtha scored an important 4-2 win over Faisali this week to remain atop the pack before facing 11th placed Hussein this week in another match, which might give them the chance to further boost their lead.

Wihdat moved up to second after they beat Ahli 2-1 as the latter moved up to 5th before facing Shabab Urdun. Jazira were held 1-1 by Manshieh and dropped one spot ahead of their match against newcomers Aqaba who were also held 1-1 by last placed Yarmouk.

That Ras are fourth after beating Hussein 1-0 and next play Yarmouk, while titleholder Faisali dropped to sixth ahead of their math against Baqa’a, who held Shabab Urdun 1-1 as they both stayed 8th and 9th in the standings.

Ramtha have so far upset all former champs beating Faisali, Shabab Urdun and Wihdat to remain atop the lead. Ahli’s Mahmoud Wadi still heads the top scorers list with 7 goals.

So far this season, reigning League and Jordan Cup champs Faisali beat Jazira to win the 35th Jordan Super Cup. Wihdat beat Jazira to win the Jordan Football Association (JFA) Shield.

Last season, Faisali won their 33rd league title after a four year break and combined it with the Jordan Cup. Ahli beat reigning league champs Wihdat to win the Super Cup, Shabab Urdun beat Faisali to win their second Shield title after they first won in 2007. Sarih and Sahab were relegated and replaced by Aqaba and Yarmouk from the First Division.

Kyrie Irving played his best game with his new team, finishing with 24 points and six assists to lead the Boston Celtics to their fifth straight win, a 108-94 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night.

The win ended an 11-game Spurs winning streak against the Celtics, including the last six at TD Garden since Boston’s last victory in 2011. It was also the Spurs’ third straight loss on a 1-3 road trip.

Jaylen Brown scored 18 points, and Terry Rozier had eight of his 12 points in 52 seconds to put the game away in the fourth quarter.

The Spurs, still without injured Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker and with Manu Ginobili resting, got a career-high 18 points and five rebounds from Brandon Paul.

Knicks 116, Nuggets 110

Kristaps Porzingis scored a career-high 38 points as New York blew a 23-point lead but made enough plays in the fourth quarter to hold off Denver.

Porzingis produced his fifth 30-point game of the season and eighth of his career. He made 14 of 26 shots, including four 3-pointers, and surpassed his previous career best set November 16 against Detroit.

Kyle O’Quinn helped Porzingis by finishing with 15 points and 12 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 28 points.

Warriors 141, 

Clippers 113

Stephen Curry scored 31 points and Kevin Durant added 19 as Golden State cruised past Los Angeles a day after falling at home to the Detroit Pistons.

It was the Warriors’ 11th consecutive victory over their Western Conference rival, with the Clippers last beating Golden State in December  2014.

Danilo Gallinari scored 19 points for the Clippers, while Lou Williams added 17 and Blake Griffin had 16. The Clippers took second consecutive defeat after opening the season 4-0. They lost to the Pistons a day before the Warriors did.

Timberwolves 125, 

Heat 122 (OT)

Jeff Teague scored 23 points to lead Minnesota to an overtime victory over Miami.

Teague’s two free throws with 4.4 seconds remaining gave the Timberwolves their final margin. Dion Waiters’ game-tying 3-point attempt at the buzzer bounced off the rim. Waiters finished with a game-high 33 points.

Andrew Wiggins finished with 22 points and Karl-Anthony Towns scored 20 points and had 12 rebounds for the Timberwolves. Jimmy Butler also finished in double figures with 16 points.

76ers 115, Rockets 107

Ben Simmons scored 24 points and teamed with Joel Embiid down the stretch to help Philadelphia fend off Houston.

Simmons finished with seven rebounds and nine assists. Embiid chipped in 22 points, nine boards and five assists.

James Harden paced the Rockets with 29 points and seven assists. Eric Gordon scored 25 points, and Clint Capela added 12 points and 15 rebounds.

Hornets 104, Grizzlies 99

Kemba Walker scored 27 points and Jeremy Lamb added 17 to lead Charlotte to a come-from-behind victory over Memphis.

Walker scored nine of his game-high point total in the final 6:16 as the Hornets took advantage of a cold-shooting Memphis squad.

The Grizzlies, who shot 34.4 per cent, were led by reserve Tyreke Evans’ 19 points and 10 rebounds. Mike Conley (16 points) and Marc Gasol (10 points) combined to shoot 8 of 33.

Raptors 99, Trail 

Blazers 85

DeMar DeRozan scored 21 of his 25 points in the first half, and Toronto rode a big opening-half lead to a victory over Portland at Moda Centre.

Kyle Lowry contributed 19 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, and Lucas Nogueira chipped in 17 points and nine rebounds for the Raptors.

Damian Lillard scored 25 of his season-high 36 points in the second half for the Trail Blazers. CJ McCollum added 16 points, but made just 5 of 16 shots.

Jazz 104, Mavericks 89

Rudy Gobert totaled 17 points, 12 rebounds, six blocks and a career-high six assists to lead Utah over Dallas.

Rodney Hood had a season-high 25 points, and Ricky Rubio added 20 points as the Jazz improved to 4-0 at home.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 18 points, J.J. Barea added 17 points and Devin Harris had 15 for Dallas, which could not overcome 24 turnovers that led to 33 points for Utah.

Magic 115, Pelicans 99

Marreese Speights exploded for four wide-open 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and finished with 18 points, and Nikola Vucevic, Jonathon Simmons and Evan Fournier scored 20 points each to lift Orlando over New Orleans.

The Magic led 88-83 after three quarters, then held the Pelicans to 15 fourth-quarter points. Orlando outscored the Pelicans 55-35 in the second half.

New Orleans got 26 points from Anthony Davis in the first half, but he scored only two points in the third quarter and finished with 39 points and 10 rebounds. DeMarcus Cousins scored 12 points on 5-of-14 shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds.

BASEL, Switzerland — Roger Federer displayed some rare flashes of temper as he battled past Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-3 for an eighth Swiss Indoors title in front of a partisan Basel crowd on Sunday.

The 36-year-old local favourite, beaten by Del Potro in consecutive Basel finals in 2012 and 2013, was ragged at times, and looked in danger of an unwanted hat-trick, but showed all his fighting qualities to turn the match around.

Fourth seed Del Potro, making a late run to try and qualify for next month’s ATP World Tour Finals in London, broke serve in the first game of the decider, but wilted as Federer stormed back to the delight of a raucous crowd inside the St Jakobshalle.

World No. 2 Federer charged into a 5-2 lead and while Del Potro delayed the end by holding serve, Federer would not be denied and racked up his 95th career title as Del Potro fired a backhand long under pressure.

In edging past Ivan Lendl’s 94 Federer is now alone in second place on the all-time titles list which American great Jimmy Connors leads with 109.

However, his chances of snatching the World No. 1 ranking from Rafael Nadal before the end of the season are all but over as the Swiss pulled out of next week’s Paris Masters citing a back injury.

Federer, who trails Nadal by 1,460 points in the rankings, has taken regular breaks during the season to rest his body and no doubt opted to skip the Paris tournament to prepare for next month’s ATP Finals in London.

Del Potro would have moved into the eighth and final qualifying spot for London had he claimed a third Basel title, but now must reach the semifinals at least in the French capital to make it to the season-ending tournament.

“All the best for Paris and then I’ll hopefully maybe see you in London, too,” Federer said after an intense battle with the 29-year-old Argentine who fell just short of claiming a second successive title after winning in Stockholm.

Federer broke serve in the opening game but Del Potro hit back immediately when Federer netted a backhand.

Del Potro struggled to hold serve and cracked at 4-4 under a flurry of Federer winners. Federer could not serve out the set though and was broken as Del Potro took it to a tiebreak.

Federer went 3-0 up but lost six successive points. He saved two set points, but Del Potro took the opener on his third chance — leaving Federer flustered.

The 19-times Grand Slam champion smashed his racket into the net at one point during the opening set, but it was Del Potro’s turn to lose his cool when he dropped serve at 4-5 in the second as the crowd roared Federer on.

Del Potro took the opening game of the decider but looked fatigued as Federer found another gear to surge back.

Andrea Dovizioso won a rainy Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday to keep the MotoGP title race alive as Marc Marquez’s coronation was delayed with a fourth place finish.

Italian Dovizioso overtook teammate Jorge Lorenzo with four laps remaining to claim his sixth win of the campaign at Sepang circuit and give Ducati a 1-2 finish for the first time this year.

Johann Zarco grabbed third on his non-works Yamaha, nursing a soft rear tyre to the finish, frustrating Marquez’s hopes of sealing his fourth MotoGP title with a race to spare.

Dovizioso’s win is only likely to stall the championship leader’s triumph for another two weeks as Honda-riding Marquez will take a 21-point lead over the Italian into the final race in Valencia.

Reigning champion Marquez moved to 282 points and with 25 up for grabs in Spain, should wrap up the title if his bike stays on two wheels.

Stranger things have happened, however, and 31-year-old Dovizioso was not ruling out his chances of a maiden title.

“Everything can happen during the weekend, and you never know about the weather,” he told reporters.

“We know it’s difficult but we are relaxed. We are going to Valencia in a relaxed way and will try to do the maximum.”

Dovizioso started third on the grid behind pole-sitter Dani Pedrosa yet it was Marquez charging into the lead with a brilliant start from seventh.

He was forced to turn wide, however, and fell quickly back to third behind Zarco and Lorenzo.

Dovizioso had the roughest start but roared past Marquez on the fourth lap and kept the Spaniard at bay thereafter.

Lorenzo made his move on Zarco midway through the 20-lap race and Dovizioso followed him moments later, leaving the two Ducatis to duel for the win.

With Marquez holding down fourth behind Zarco, Dovizioso needed to deal with his three-times world champion teammate to be assured of taking the title fight to Valencia.

With the controversial whiff of team orders in the muggy Malaysian air, Dovizioso drew ever closer to Lorenzo and was gifted the lead with four laps to go when the Spaniard skidded at turn 15 and very nearly came to grief.

Dovizioso swept past and held on for a 0.743 second-win, perhaps safe in the knowledge that there would be no further duelling from his teammate.

Pedrosa finished fifth for Honda ahead of Danilo Petrucci on a non-works Ducati. Italian great Valentino Rossi finished seventh on his Yamaha. 

In the Moto2 category, Kalex rider Franco Morbidelli sewed up the championship before the race was even run after the Italian’s nearest challenger Thomas Luthi was forced to pull out after breaking a foot during qualifying.

Morbidelli finished third in the race, with KTM’s Miguel Oliveira taking the win.

Joan Mir, already crowned champion, won the Moto3 category.

SINGAPORE — Caroline Wozniacki's cruise to the biggest win of her career turned into a desperate struggle before the Dane finally subdued Venus Williams 6-4, 6-4 in the WTA Finals title showdown at an enthralled Singapore Indoor Stadium on Sunday.

The 27-year-old former world number one entered the contest having lost to the evergreen Williams seven times in as many matches but the resilient Dane served and retrieved brilliantly to emerge with a deserved victory after 88 minutes.

Wozniacki was flawless for an hour as she raced to a set and 5-0 lead, but Williams is renowned for an insatiable desire to win and the 37-year-old reeled off four games in a row before her increasingly anxious opponent finally closed out the match.

"I felt like it was a little bit of an uphill battle, to be honest. I knew she was stepping it up, she had nothing to lose at that point, and she really went for it. Things were going in for her," Wozniacki told reporters.

"I just had to keep reminding myself that I'm still up and I'm the one who is leading here, and I'm the one who can close out this match right now."

The first three games were dominated by the server until the Dane began to find the corners of the court with her powerful backhand, fashioning the first break of the match with back-to-back winners off both flanks.

Williams was trying to get to the net at every opportunity and came forward to good effect in the next game, with a vicious cross-court backhand enabling her to break back immediately on her way to levelling the score at 3-3.

The American continued to be the aggressor but the Dane held on in the face of some brutal hitting and somehow forged her second break of the set with some exquisite deep groundstrokes to move within a game of taking the opener.

Gifted set

The American came roaring back once more, however, leaving the Dane looking on as a helpless spectator at a barrage of winners that put the high-class contest back on serve.

After working so hard to stay in touch, Williams would have been deeply frustrated to gift her opponent the set when the Dane was handed the third break in a row, as the wayward American sent a string of forehands wide, long and into the net.
Wozniacki had seized the momentum and with her variation, depth of shot and complete lack of errors preventing Williams from grabbing any sort of foothold in the contest, the flying Dane raced into a 5-0 lead in 11 second-set minutes. 

Needing to hold serve just to stay in the contest, Williams found her rhythm to prevent a dreaded “bagel” and then secured her first break of the second set with some solid play against an opponent who was showing the first signs of getting tight. 

Williams, meanwhile, now appeared relaxed and free, holding easily to heap more pressure on the Dane before stretching every muscle and sinew in her body to break once more in a thrilling ninth game to make it 5-4. 

The crowd wanted more but Wozniacki was not prepared to comply with their demands, breaking again to seal victory on her second match point with a backhand winner down the line and tossing her racket in the air as she celebrated a stunning win.

"Yeah, you know, she played really well the whole match. You know, I played well parts of the match and tried my best," Williams, who won the event in 2008, said.

Wozniacki's triumph was her second of the season in eight finals after she successfully defended her Pan Pacific Open title in Tokyo last month. The Dane will rise three places to world number three in Monday's rankings.

DEAD SEA — Ihab Shurafa on Friday captured the Jordan National Rally Championship title after an exciting fifth round finale which Salameh Qamaz won with the participation of 10 drivers at the Dead Sea area Service Park B.

Shurafa needed to finish the rally to capture the title and settled in the third place after Qamaz and Mohammed Tayseer. 

Qamaz and co-driver his son Faisal, in their Mitsubishi Evo 5, clocked 50m40s, followed by Tayseer and co-driver Shadi Shaban (50m44s) in their Mitsubishi Evo 9 and Shurafa and co- driver Yousef Juma in third place (50m53s) in their Mitsubishi Evo 9. 

Suhail Abu Rus and co-driver Amer Musa took  fourth place (54m14s) in their Opel Kadet and Ziad Meqdad and co-driver Noor Meqdad wrapped up fifth place (56m03s) in their Mitsubishi Evo 7.

Shurafa expressed his happiness after the rally saying that it was a very challenging round that ended on a high note.

“It was a very exciting round — the kind that places a lot of pressure on even the most skilled drivers. I am happy with my third place in the final round as I was seeking the title which I won and this is a great result. It is time now to plan for next year.”

The final round witnessed the retirement of Khaled Juma, Tareq Taher and Assem Aref due to mechanical issues.

Othman Naseef, Jordan Motorsport CEO told The Jordan Times that the finale was a nerve breaking affair.

“We have seen many final and decisive rounds but this one had a very challenging atmosphere among drivers which gave it the edge. We are happy that it ended well with fans enjoying the rally,” he said.

Drivers had to go through Bahra and Ghernata three times each with a total distance of 198.3km including 70.86km of special stages at the service park B at the Dead Sea. 

SINGAPORE — Caroline Wozniacki stood her ground in the face of some incredible early pressure before pulling away from Karolina Pliskova to eke out a 7-6(9), 6-3 victory in a captivating semifinal showdown at the WTA Finals on Saturday.

The victory, completed in four minutes under two hours, was built on the Dane’s resilience, consistency and greater variation on the key points, and put the 27-year-old into her second final in the eight-woman event after losing in 2010.

Wozniacki goes on to meet Venus Williams who beat Caroline Garcia 7-6, 6-2, 6-2 in the other semi on Saturday, while Pliskova is left to rue a defeat that prevents her from being able to replace Simona Halep as World No. 1.

“We have had a lot of close matches this year and I was hoping today was my turn. It feels great to be in the final and I have been playing some great tennis this week,” Wozniacki said in a courtside interview.

Both players had raced out of the blocks in their previous three matches in Singapore, but perhaps mindful of what was at stake, they made a cagey start to their semifinal, unable to stamp any sort of authority on proceedings.

Pliskova was the aggressor and found more success when she committed to her attacking shots, while Wozniacki was content to use her supreme court coverage and stonewall defence to stay in touch.

The first five games went with serve until the Czech edged ahead by instigating a run of four straight breaks of serve as Wozniacki staved off three set points in the 10th game stay alive in the set and eventually forced a tiebreak.

The Dane then raced into a 6-1 lead over the sleepwalking Pliskova before the Czech rose from her slumber to first save all five set points and then fashion three more of her own, which Wozniacki somehow managed to survive.

Wozniacki continued to cover every inch of the court to set up another set point, her sixth, with more defensive brilliance, and the former No. 1 sealed the opener 11-9 in the breaker when Pliskova found the net with a backhand.

The Dane was full of confidence and attempted to break free with an early break in the second set to move 3-1 ahead but Pliskova refused to buckle and stormed back by stepping in to take her shots early to get the contest back on serve.

Wozniacki changed tactics again, however, and opted to push the ball into the corners to force Pliskova into some vital errors as she struggled out of position and the Dane broke once more for a 5-3 lead.

This time there would be no way back for Pliskova as Wozniacki sent a backhand crosscourt winner past her stranded opponent to storm into the final.

“It was a little bit crazy, managing to come back from those set points and then not feeling so good about myself after being 6-1 up in the tiebreak. It was kind of a roller-coaster and I am just happy that I got the first set under my belt,” Wozniacki added.