Safina sweeps to second successive tennis title

MADRID: Women's world number one Dinara Safina claimed her second major clay title in a row here on Sunday as she outclassed Danish teenager Caroline Wozniacki 6-2, 6-4 to win the Madrid Masters.

The 23-year-old Russian - who lost the 2008 Roland Garros final to Ana Ivanovic - showed she is on track as a serious title contender when the French Open gets underway in a week.

Safina has figured in WTA finals over the last three weeks in the grand slam buildup, losing Stuttgart to compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova but turning the tables to beat her in Rome a week ago.

"I was getting a bit tired by the end," said Safina. "But I dominated at the crucial times. I was very dominant in the first set.

"In the second I had a chance at a double-break."

Despite the humbling defeat in 1hr,48 min, Wozniacki, 19, will still make her career Top ten breakthrough in Monday's final pre-French Open rankings.

The youngster playing her fourth final of the season, won a minor Florida title in February.

"I'm going one step at a time," said Wozniacki, considering her new number twn ranking. "I'm in the Top ten so I have nine more steps to go to reach my goal."