Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki celebrated her new world number one ranking on Monday by capturing her sixth title of the year at the China Open, outlasting her Russian rival Vera Zvonareva, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

The victory in Beijing by the 20-year-old Wozniacki — who has dethroned injured American superstar Serena Williams as the WTA’s top player — came as sweet revenge for her loss to Zvonareva in the US Open semi-finals.

The Dane looked tentative at the start of the match, which was postponed from Sunday due to heavy rain. She looked especially vulnerable on the forehand side, giving Zvonareva several free points on mis-hits and falling behind 3-1.

But she stormed back to take the next five games and the set, unleashing ferocious cross-court backhands and keeping the 26-year-old Russian off-balance by changing up the speed of her groundstrokes.

In the second set, the momentum shifted and Zvonareva found her range, securing the key break to go up 3-1 and closing it out to force the decider under the floodlights at the Olympic Green Tennis Centre on a chilly night.

In the third, Wozniacki showed why she is the best player in the world, stepping up her game and painting the lines with blistering backhands despite the Russian’s tough counter-punching to build an early 3-0 lead.

Zvonareva had chances to break back, twice going up on Wozniacki’s serve love-30, but the champion shut her down both times. The Dane sealed the win with a deft forehand volley.

Before her victory in Beijing, Wozniacki won titles in Ponte Vedra Beach, Copenhagen, Montreal, New Haven and Tokyo.

Her loss to Zvonareva at Flushing Meadows was only one of two she has suffered since Wimbledon.