Caroline Wozniacki

Q. Do you think it’s unfair when people criticize you or when people talk your game and they say, She gets lots of balls back, but she hasn’t got a big weapon? You’ve got to No. 1 in the world. Do you think that’s unfair when you hear people say that?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Um, well, if I don’t have a weapon, then what do the others have? Since I’m No. 1, I must do something right. I think there’re not actually criticizing me. I think the other players should be offended.

En route to the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships title, Wozniacki reclaimed her No.1 ranking, only briefly occupied by Kim Clijsters (for seven days, in particular), and will reign the position for at least another four weeks.

Therefore, the 20-year-old Dane is or will have been No. 1 longer than Tracy Austin, Kim Clijsters, Jelena Jankovic, Jennifer Capriati, Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic, Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario, Venus Williams and Evonne Goolagong. Impressive! Especially when you see it like this on paper. (photo: Ralf Reinecke)

Caroline Wozniacki raced to the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships title without losing a set, including the final against Svetlana Kuznetsova, while playing the tournament only for the second time (last year she lost in the third round to Shahar Peer). Championship match score: 6-1 6-3.

The unfortunate Kuznetsova is still awaiting her first Dubai title, even though today's final was her third at the tournament – in 2004 she fell to Justine Henin and in 2008 to Elena Demetieva. The final appearance will still bring a nice improvement in world No.23 Kuznetsova's ranking – at least ten spots.

Not only did Wozniacki win the high-profile tournament of Dubai, but she also ensured her comeback to top ranking position, with a quarterfinal win over Shahar Peer. By further progressing in the event, and eventually winning the title, Wozniacki is projected to occupy the No.1 spot for at least next four weeks.

The title is Wozniacki's 13th and her first in 2011. As for financial gain, Wozniacki earned $360,000, while Kuznetsova earned $180,000. (photo via Dubai tournament)

Caroline Wozniacki

The top-seeded Wozniacki confidently profited on all Jankovic's lost opportunities, impatience and tiredness – in the first set Jankovic blew a 5-3 40-0 lead and later a chance to force a tiebreak while leading 40-15 on Wozniacki's serve in the 12th game. Jankovic's troubles marked the end of the set as well, when her double fault gave Wozniacki a set point and then a lucky net handed the Dane the set.

In the second set Wozniacki broke the sixth-seeded Jankovic in the fifth game, and even though the Serb immediately broke back to level at 3-3, her concentration was on a very low level and her defeat rapidly approached. Final score: 7-5 6-3.

Wozniacki's opponent in the final of the $2,050,000 Dubai event will be 16th seed Svetlana Kuznetsova, who defeated seed No.11 Flavia Pennetta 6-4 6-4 in the semifinals. (photo: Women Who Serve)

Kim Clijsters may have taken the No.1 ranking from Caroline Wozniacki, but only a week later the 20-year-old Dane ensured her return to the very top. Probably a week wasn’t enough for Wozniacki to rest from all the talks about how she doesn’t deserve the position because she hasn’t won a Grand Slam, but like it or not, she’ll be spending her 19th week at No.1. That’s a pretty long reign, I would say. Clijsters, the winner of 41 singles titles including four Grand Slams, has held the top spot for 20 weeks in her career (in four different periods and over the course of eight years). Wozniacki is extremely close to that number even though she first became No.1 in October 2010, less than half a year ago.

The match that was decisive for Wozniacki’s ranking was her encounter with Shahar Peer in the quarterfinals of the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships. The top-seeded Wozniacki avenged her last year’s loss to the Israeli at this tournament with a routine 6-2 6-4 victory. Interestingly, Wozniacki had less break points than Peer, but she obviously converted more of her chances (6 of 8, compared to Shahar’s 3 of 10) and improved to 5-1 against Peer.

Now that we're talking about these two players, I though to share a nice interview from a couple of years ago with Peer interviewing Wozniacki.

Sixth seed Jelena Jankovic will be Wozniacki’s opponent in Dubai semifinals. Jankovic advanced with a 6-3 5-7 7-6(4) win over fourth seed Samantha Stosur.

Second-seeded Vera Zvonareva played one of her worst matches in a while, as she later stated, and lost to fellow Russian Alisa Kleybanova 6-3 6-2.

The third round also featured a rematch of the epic Australian Open third round encounter between Francesca Schiavone and Svetlana Kuznetsova. In Australia, Schiavone saved six match points and won the longest women's Grand Slam match in history, while today in Dubai she also saved six match points, but finally succumbed, 1-6 6-0 7-5.

"It's good, because I still have our last match in my heart. I still have this pain, because I fought so hard and I had so many chances and it was a Grand Slam. But it happens, I guess. I won this time," said Kuznetsova, who lost the first set. (via WTA Tour, photo: Ralf Reinecke)

World No.2 Caroline Wozniacki has a chance to regain her No.1 ranking from Kim Clijsters if she reaches the semifinals of the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships and she's on a good way, having overcome Anna Chakvetadze after a first-round bye. Actually, if it can be perceived as a victory, because Chakvetadze collapsed during the match and retired right afterwards.

The 51st-ranked Chakvetadze lost the first set 6-1, but was up in the second, serving at 5-3 when she fell to the ground with her eyes rolling. Upon receiving medical attention, Chakvetadze wanted to continue the match, but had to give up after just one point. The Russian was later diagnosed with gastroenteritis.

It’s a disappointing end to Chakvetadze’s appearance in Dubai, as she won the battle of former Top 5 players by defeating Hantuchova in the first round, the winner of last weekend’s Pattaya tournament, and was pretty optimistic about her current game.

Here’s what Chakvetadze said after beating Hantuchova:

I think I'm going in the right direction. At least now I feel I'm playing tennis. A year ago it was something different. I don't want to expect too much, I just want to enjoy practicing, then enjoy the matches and try to win. I don't want to put pressure on myself. It's the beginning of a new career for me. I don't think about three years ago. Of course it gave me some experience, but it will also put more pressure on me.

Pity, the outcome was that Chakvetadze suffered her first straight-set loss to Wozniacki in their four meetings, and is now 0-4 against the Dane.

Additional info: Besides the top-seeded Wozniacki, all the seeds advanced to the third round, with just one exception of No.5 seed Li Na, who fell to Yanina Wickmayer 6-7(6) 7-6(6) 6-2. Those that were victorious include: Vera Zvonareva, Francesca Schiavone, Samantha Stosur, Jelena Jankovic, Victoria Azarenka, Agnieszka Radwanska, Shahar Peer, Marion Bartoli, Flavia Pennetta, Kaia Kanepi, Alisa Kleybanova, and Svetlana Kuznetsova. (photo: Ralf Reinecke)

Kvitova may have beaten current world No.1 Kim Clijsters just two days ago, but she felt slow and tired in her first round in the United Arab Emirates and lost to qualifier Ayumi Morita 7-6(2) 7-6(3). Having won the Brisbane and Paris tournaments in 2011, Kvitova has today suffered only her second loss of the season in which she ascended 20 spots in the rankings. The Czech is currently at a career-high of No.14.

Hantuchova was also feeling physically exhausted, so much that at moments she couldn't keep track of the score. Former world No.5 Anna Chakvetadze, whose days of tennis glory are growing distant, made it to the second round of Dubai with a 6-1 6-3 victory over Hantuchova. It's Chakvetadze's second first-round win in four attempts this season.

Besides the 14th-seeded Kvitova, the only other seed to lose on Tuesday was No.13 seed Ana Ivanovic, who is now enjoying the benefits of being coachless. Patty Schnyder defeated Ivanovic 4-6 7-6(2) 6-2. Another Serb also lost in three sets in the first round, wildcard Bojana Jovanovski to Yanina Wickmayer, 7-5 3-6 6-2. (photo: © Neal Trousdale)

Venus Williams defended her Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships crown by beating Victoria Azarenka of Belorussia 6-3 7-5 in the final.

The third-seeded Williams benefited from the sole break of Azarenka’s serve in the seventh game to take the first set 6-3. The American continued well and with a 3-1 lead in the second set she seemed to be cruising to victory. However, the fourth-seeded Azarenka then won three successive games. Still, Williams later broke again to establish a 6-5 lead and held her serve to win the tournament.

World No.5 Venus Williams currently possesses the largest number of WTA singles titles among active women’s tennis players. She has now won her 42th, while Justine Henin comes in second with 41.

Last year in Dubai Williams defended the rights of Shahar Peer, the Israeli who was not given a visa to come to the UAE, and this year the American seven-time Grand Slam champion had the honor of beating that same Shahar Peer in the semifinals and later even claiming second straight title at the $2-million tournament. It's also worth mentioning that Peer will return to the Top 20. (photo via Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships)

Venus Williams reached the final of the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships by defeating surprise semifinalist Shahar Peer in the modest surroundings of Court Two, the court of choice because of safety reasons.

Third-seeded Williams defeated Peer 6-1 6-4 amid tight security that surrounded the Israeli all week. Even though Peer’s appearance in Dubai had to be accompanied by her being kept separate from other players, she enjoyed one of the most successful tournaments of her career.

"It was a different experience but a nice one," said world No.22 Peer who upset three seeds on her way to the semis. "I'm sure I will remember this tournament for the rest of my life."

Reigning champion Venus Williams will play fourth seed Victoria Azarenka in the final, as the Belorussian defeated seed No.7 Agnieszka Radwanska 6-3 6-4 in the final four. Williams and Azarenka have met only once so far – two years ago at the Beijing Olympics and the American won that match. (photo by our reader Bobby)

Serbian former world No.1 tennis player Jelena Jankovic has decided to move to Dubai and make it her home base.

"I love so many things about this place," said the world No.8 who has lost in the third round of the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championship this week. "The people are good and the place is lovely as I can step out anytime and practice."

Does anyone know what happened to JJ's dream house in San Diego? I remember the talks about her building it, but I haven't heard of it being finished or anything, and now she's moving to Dubai. (source: ESPN via Forty Deuce)