WTA Championships 2012: Williams is favourite for title – Wozniacki

Serena Williams claimed her fourth US Open title in August Photo: Marianne Bevis

Caroline Wozniacki believes US Open champion Serena Williams is the favourite to win the WTA Championships title in Istanbul this week.

The Dane, who won the Kremlin Cup on Sunday, was beaten on three occasions by Williams in 2012 – in Madrid, Miami and at the London Olympics – and the world No11 feels the American will be too strong for her opponents.

Williams has won the end-of-season tournament twice before – in 2001 and 2009 – with world No1 Victoria Azarenka most likely to be the 31-year-old’s biggest challenger.

“Serena is definitely a favourite always, indoors she’s serving well and she has good shots,” Wozniacki said.

Wozniacki edged to a 6-2 4-6 7-5 victory over Sam Stosur in Sunday’s final to win her 20th career title, and the beaten Australian admitted it has been a disappointing year.

“Even though I lost, making a final is still a good achievement,” she said.

“It’s disappointing not to walk away with a title this year, having done so the last couple of years, but I made it to two finals and had a lot of other good opportunities, so it’s still a good year, and I’ll use it to motivate myself in 2013.”

The 2011 US Open winner will be in Istanbul as an alternate should one of the top eight seeds pulls out of the tournament.

“As far as Istanbul goes, I’m going there tonight, so I have one day to prepare and then if I have to play, then I’ll be as ready as what I can be. Time will tell whether or not I get to play another match this year,” Stosur added.