Wozniacki, Kanepi advance to finals in Tokyo

Oct 4, 2008 - 2:29 PM TOKYO (Ticker) -- For Caroline Wozniacki is a win away from her third title of the season at the $175,000 AIG Japan Open.

The top-seeded Wozniacki advanced to the finals at the Tier III hardcourt event on Saturday with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over lucky loser Jarmila Gajdosova of Slovakia.

Wozniacki will meet fifth-seeded Kaia Kanepi in the finals after the Estonia native forged a 6-4, 6-4 triumph over Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak during their semifinal.

The world No. 16, Wozniacki fired four aces and saved five break points to book a spot in her third final of the year, having claimed titles at Stockholm and New Haven.

After failing to make it past the first round in her last two tournaments, the 18-year-old Dane has turned things around here, losing only one set in four matches.

Kanepi needed nearly two hours to get past Wozniak and advance to her second career final. Ranked 33rd in the world, Kanepi was a finalist at Hasselt in 2006 and has semifinal appearances at Acapulco and Seoul this season.

"I feel I'm a much better player than the last time I was in the final of a tour event," said Kanepi, who has never faced Wozniacki. "This fast surface is not my favorite, but I'll do my best against Caroline tomorrow. I think I'm playing the best tennis of my career and I have my highest ranking right now so I'm confident going into this final."

First prize is $28,000.