Wozniacki gets 1st win at this year’s WTA Finals

SINGAPORE (AP) – Defending champion Caroline Wozniacki earned her first victory at this year’s WTA Finals, beating Petra Kvitova 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 on Tuesday.

Wozniacki, who became the first Danish woman to win a Grand Slam title at this year’s Australian Open, is now 1-1 in her group. Kvitova is 0-2.

“I played much better today,” Wozniacki said on court after the match. “I returned well. I served well. Against Petra, she’s so powerful, you have to stay on your game. I just tried to stay focused and get a lot of balls back.

“I always believe in myself and when I’m out on the court I believe I’m going to win.”

Wozniacki lost to Karolina Pliskova in her opening match, while Kvitova lost to Elina Svitolina. Pliskova and Svitolina will meet later Tuesday.

Kvitova, who won the WTA Finals title in her debut appearance at the year-end tournament in 2011, was the one taking chances on Tuesday. But Wozniacki played steadier defense and waited for the Czech to make mistakes.

Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark plays a return shot while competing against Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic during their women’s singles match at the WTA tennis finals in Singapore, Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Kvitova finished the match with 40 winners and 40 unforced errors. Wozniacki had 19 winners and 14 unforced errors.

Wozniacki, who broke her opponent in the first and fifth games of the deciding set, took a medical timeout to have her left knee bandaged when Kvitova was leading 3-1 in the second.

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Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark plays a return shot while competing against Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic during their women’s singles match at the WTA tennis finals in Singapore, Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic plays a return shot while competing against Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark during their women’s singles match at the WTA tennis finals in Singapore, Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark plays a return shot while competing against Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic during their women’s singles match at the WTA tennis finals in Singapore, Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark celebrates after winning against Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic during their women’s singles match at the WTA tennis finals in Singapore, Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)