NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- Caroline Wozniacki kept up the best month of her career, moving into the finals of the Pilot Pen on Friday with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over seventh-seeded Alize Cornet.
The 18-year-old Dane began August by getting her first WTA Tour win in Stockholm, then reached the third round at the Olympics, where she lost to eventual gold medalist Elena Dementieva.
"It was just an amazing experience that you just don't get every day," she said. "Now I'm in the finals again. It's been a good month for me."
She will face the tournament's top seed, Anna Chakvetadze. The 21-year-old Russian needed three sets to beat Amelie Mauresmo, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.
In the men's draw, American Mardy Fish upset top-seeded Fernando Verdasco of Spain 6-0, 1-6, 6-3 to advance to his second straight Pilot Pen final. He will face sixth-seeded Marin Cilic, who beat qualifier Luka Gregorc, 6-3, 6-3.
Wozniacki broke Cornet in the 12th game to take their first set, but dropped the first three games of the second set before rallying. She broke Cornet at love in the final game.
Cornet, who also made it to the third round in Beijing, said she wore down midway through her second set with Wozniacki.
"She was just ready to fight on every point, and I started to feel a little bit tired," Cornet said. "After, it was worse and worse and finally at the end of the match, the two last games, I was out of the match."
Cornet had her left thigh wrapped after injuring her quadriceps in the quarterfinals, but said the injury is not serious and should not affect her chances next week in the U.S. Open.
Wozniacki, who beat third-seeded Marion Bartoli 6-4, 6-0 in the quarterfinals, has moved up from No. 64 in the world in January to No. 22 and expects to continue her climb.
"I would love to become No. 1 in the world and win Grand Slams," Wozniacki said. "I think everyone practicing this hard, you know, putting such an effort in it wants to become No. 1 in the world. But there's only one No. 1. So, you know, you need to put some hard work in it You know, I still have 21 spots to go. And hopefully after this tournament I have a little bit less."
Chakvetadze, ranked No. 8, hasn't lost in seven previous tournament finals in her career. She last won indoors at Paris in February.
She overcame nine double-faults and some shaky play Friday, including an embarrassing whiff on an easy overhand during the sixth game of the third set. After the ball bounced, she hit a backhand into the net.
