Pan Pacific Open: Caroline Wozniacki claws into quarter-finals

Tokyo: Defending champion Caroline Wozniacki clawed her way into the Pan Pacific Open quarter-finals on Thursday, narrowly avoiding the fate fourth seed Johanna Konta earlier suffered in Tokyo.

Former world number one Wozniacki recovered from a break down in the final set to beat American Shelby Rogers 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 after finding her mojo just in time.

The third seed, a two-time Pan Pacific winner chasing her 26th career title, stormed through the second set to level the match with an ace before inexplicably allowing Rogers to open a 3-0 lead in the decider.

But Wozniacki came roaring back, punching a backhand deep into the corner to turn the tide and spark a purple patch of form where the Dane suddenly began smashing winners from all angles.

Rogers had no answer to Wozniacki’s unerring accuracy thereafter and the world number six finished her off with a looping forehand the American could only dump into the net.

Konta, who crashed out in the first round of the US Open last month, again paid for her profligacy as she was upset 7-5, 7-6 by Czech Barbora Strycova to become the first major casualty in Tokyo.

Elsewhere, ninth seed Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia safely advanced after thrashing Japan’s Kurumi Nara 6-1, 6-3 to set up a quarter-final with top seed Garbine Muguruza.