China Open 2019: Naomi Osaka beats defending champion Carolina Wozniacki, sets up final against World No 1 Ashleigh Barty

Beijing: Naomi Osaka will face World No 1 Ashleigh Barty in Sunday’s final of the China Open after powering to a convincing win over title-holder Caroline Wozniacki. [caption id=“attachment_7457051” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Naomi Osaka acknowledges the crowd after her win over Caroline Wozniacki at the China Open 2019. AP[/caption] The Australian Open winner threw off some initial frustrations to emphatically end Wozniacki’s reign in Beijing with a 6-4, 6-2 victory in 84 minutes. The 21-year-old Japanese, who on Friday ended Bianca Andreescu’s run of 17 wins in a row, took time to settle against Denmark’s Wozniacki. World No 4 Osaka showed flashes of irritation as she let Wozniacki off the hook at 3-3 in the first set, tossing her racquet on the floor. But in the ninth game, the pressure on the 19th-ranked Wozniacki told, Osaka grabbing the all-important break of service with an arrowing forehand. Osaka, like Wozniacki a former No 1, broke her opponent at the start of the second set to underline her superiority, before racing to a thumping win. Earlier on Saturday, Australia’s Barty booked her place in the final by saving a match point in a tough three-set triumph over Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands.