GUANGZHOU: Romanian Monica Niculescu overcame heat and fatigue to beat second seed Alize Cornet in the final of the Guangzhou International Women’s Open for her second WTA career title on Saturday.

The world No. 60 rallied from 4-2 down in the first set to win 10 games in a row and beat her 22nd ranked French opponent 6-4 6-0.

“I was so happy to finish in the end because it was very hot and very humid, and I was very, very tired,” Niculescu said after her win.

“But to finish so strong was amazing for me. I have many emotions right now, but most of it is joy and confidence. It’s my second WTA title and that’s just an amazing feeling.” Cornet, 24, struggled with her serve and committed 12 double faults against an opponent who had none.

The 26-year-old Niculescu had a great week at the $500,000 event where she did not drop a set and lost just 17 games in the five matches.

“I think it’s very tough to play against me because I put many balls back and run a lot and fight for every ball — I think in this heat and humidity it’s definitely not easy to play against me,” Niculescu added.

“I had a good feeling about this tournament when I entered it.”

Wozniacki, Ivanovic showdown

In Tokyo, Ana Ivanovic of Serbia ousted top seed Angelique Kerber in straight sets Saturday to reach the final of the $1 million Pan Pacific Open against US Open finalist Caroline Wozniacki.

Third seed Ivanovic charged back from 3-5 down in the first set to beat the 26-year-old German favorite 7-5, 6-3 in the semifinals.

Denmark’s Wozniacki, seeded second and looking to get over her loss to world No.1 Serena Williams in the US Open two weeks ago, outplayed Spaniard Garbine Muguruza 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 in two and a half hours.

“I started a little bit slow but after the break I tried to get more explosive and moving a little more,” Ivanovic said of her second broken serve which put her 2-1 down at the start of the match.

She did not lose any more serves and broke world No.8 Kerber four times altogether.

“It was for sure a tough match,” said Kerber.

Muguruza, aged 20 and ranked 26th, beat Wozniacki in their two previous encounters, taking an Australian Open round of 32 clash 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 in January.

Wozniacki, the 2010 Pan Pacific Open champion, broke the Spaniard’s serve in the 10th game to take the first set after surviving nine break points on her own serve.

But she lost serve three times in the second set and lost the first two games in the decisive set.

Wozniacki rallied back to take six straight games, breaking her opponent three times. An increasingly erratic Muguruza served and shot a forehand wide on match point.

Muguruza later teamed up with fellow Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro in the doubles final.

But they lost to defending champions Cara Black of Zimbabwe and India’s Sania Mirza 6-2, 7-5.

Top-seeded Black and Mirza earned the prize money of $44,835.

Lepchenko in first final at 28

In Seoul, Varvara Lepchenko beat fellow American Christina McHale to reach the first final of her career at the WTA Korea Open on Saturday.

The Uzbek-born Lepchenko, 28, came from behind to overcome McHale 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7/5) and set up a final with Czech second seed Karolina Pliskova.

Lepchenko upset defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska in the quarterfinals and she will be full of confidence heading into Sunday’s final.

Pliskova beat Russia’s Maria Kirilenko, who is playing on a wildcard as she pursues a comeback from serious injury, 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 to reach the title match.