Victory in the $2 million tournament means the Dane can leapfrog Serena Williams at the top of the world rankings if she reaches the quarterfinals at the China Open in Beijing next week.

"Of course being No.1 has always been a goal of mine but I'm just focusing on winning the next tournament," Wozniacki told reporters after winning her fifth title of 2010.

"I feel I can beat anyone now," added the 20-year-old. "I have grown a bit not only physically but mentally. It's my 11th (career) title. I'm so happy." Seventh seed Dementieva rued missed opportunities after suffering an abrupt meltdown at the business end of the deciding set in the Tokyo sunshine.

The Russian dumped a routine forehand into the net to gift Wozniacki a break at 4-3 and never fully recovered her composure, double faulting twice in a row to surrender the contest.

"That was not the most exciting way to finish the match," said Dementieva. "I didn't use my opportunities and let her get back in it. I allowed her to play the way she likes to." Wozniacki pocketed $350,000 for her victory while former champion Dementieva took home $175,000.


In Bangkok, Spain's world No.1 Rafael Nadal fell short on 24 of 26 break point chances on Saturday as he lost his Thailand Open semifinal 2-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 to compatriot Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.

The surprise winner, who handed Nadal only his eighth loss of the season against 61 wins and six titles, will on Sunday face Jarkko Nieminen of Finland, who beat German Benjamin Becker 6-3, 6-2 in their semifinal.

Nadal, winner of the last three Grand Slam titles and this season's dominant player, was frustrated by his 53rd-ranked opponent, who won his only title in 2009 on clay in Kitzbuehel.

"This is a tough loss to take," said Nadal, who moves on to an event in Tokyo next week to continue his Asian tour.

"I had a chance to reach another final and maybe win another title. But it was not to be. That is the sport and this was not my day.

The 29-year-old Finn, ranked 60th in the world, progressed beyond Bangkok's semifinals after three appearances in the last-four stage that included losses to eventual champions Taylor Dent and Roger Federer in 2003 and 2005 respectively.

"It feels great to be in a final, it seems like the last one was so long ago," said Nieminen. "I've not dropped a set this week and have been playing great tennis." Nieminen will hope to improve on a 1-8 score in career ATP finals, his only trophy coming in Auckland in January 2006. He lost his last final against the Argentinian David Nalbandian 20 months ago in Sydney.


In Kuala Lumpur, fourth seed and US Open semifinalist Mikhail Youzhny won an all-Russian tie at the Malaysian Open Saturday, reaching the Asian ATP final with a 3-6, 6-0, 6-2 win over compatriot Igor Andreev.

The winner of one trophy this season, in Munich, Youzhny will Sunday meet eighth-seeded Kazak Andrey Golubev, who beat No. 5 Spaniard David Ferrer 7-5, 7-6 (7-4) in their semifinal.

Youzhny defeated Andreev, a qualifier who once reached the Top 20, in just over 90 minutes.

World No. 9 Youzhny is fighting to qualify for the eight-man season-ending event in London from Nov.21. He lost to Rafael Nadal in the US Open semis a month ago.

Youzhny broke Andreev five times to earn his 38th win of the season against 15 losses. His only title so far came on clay in Munich last May.

Youzhny will be playing for a trophy after losing back-to-back finals in February against Sweden's Robin Soderling (Rotterdam) and Serbia's Novak Djokovic (Dubai).

Andreev, now ranked 102, was appearing in only his second semifinal of 2010 after his last at this level in Brazil in February. He has not reached a final since 2008.

Golubev needed just under two hours to eliminate Ferrer, who beat him on clay last spring in Monte Carlo.