Wozniacki, Safarova reach final in Copenhagen

Top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki beat German qualifier Mona Barthel 6-1, 6-2 on Saturday to reach the Sony Ericsson Open final, where she will face fourth-seeded Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic.

Safarova rallied from 6-1, 4-0 down to overcome Petra Martic of Croatia 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the semifinals.

Wozniacki will be out to defend her hometown title for her fifth WTA title of the year in Sunday's hard-court final inside Farum Arena.

Safarova won their only previous meeting on the clay in Stuttgart in 2010.

Safarova, who has lost the first set in each of her matches in Copenhagen, looked down and out against 112th-ranked Martic in the second before hitting a string of winners to take 12 of the final 14 games.

Until then, Martic tormented Safarova with expertly executed drop volleys.

The unseeded Croatian looked to be cruising to the final until Safarova found her range and took six games in a row to tie the set score.

Martic left the court after the second set to be treated for a back injury, only to return with a new sense of purpose. With the third set poised at 2-2, however, Martic hit three double faults and lost her service game, then Safarova held her nerve to take the next three games and close out the match.

Safarova has reached her second final this year, but the Czech lefty won the last of her four career titles in 2008.