Launchpad for Slam success

Get in her face and you cannot miss eyes that foreshadow relentlessness.

Caroline Wozniacki made short work of unseeded Elena Vesnina on Sunday afternoon on Stadium Court, winning the Family Circle Cup singles final, 6-2, 6-3.

No surprise. Just 20 but already the WTA Tour's No. 1-ranked player, Wozniacki has been playing like a woman determined to seal her status as one of the sport's best.

All it takes now is that first Grand Slam title.

It's coming.

Her great run within another fun Family Circle Cup week is a leading indicator. With or without healthy Williams sisters, Denmark's most productive export will win at the French Open or some other Grand Slam tournament this year.

Wozniacki is the first top-ranked player to win a Family Circle Cup title since Martina Hingis in 1999 at Hilton Head.

Similarities are not coincidental; Wozniacki long has admired Hingis for her ability to defeat bigger, stronger players with athleticism and smarts.

Like Hingis, Wozniacki has what it takes to become a five-time Grand Slam singles champion.

But first she has to act like it.

'I feel confident'

It's a jet-set world out there on the WTA Tour, but Wozniacki limiting the media to only two questions after the championship match because she had to catch a plane for an exhibition appearance was ridiculous.

Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Justine Henin and Charleston's other previous Family Circle Cup champions have patiently answered questions -- about things like how much they appreciated the Charleston support, Lowcountry hospitality and good competition.

Wozniacki took one question about her play this week, another about the French Open and then bolted out the door.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry," she said, skipping the typical trophy photo-shoot after a shower.

You know how it is.

Sometimes you just have to split for Monaco.

Living the dream, with a fresh $111,000 check.

Could have been worse. Family Circle Cup management, aware of Wozniacki's schedule commitments, got the No. 1-ranked player in the tournament by agreeing to allow her to make a 6:30 charter flight.

Thanks to a helpful WTA Tour staffer, Wozniacki while on the way to the airport responded to three more Post and Courier-submitted questions.

On the Family Circle Cup as a traditional launchpad to Grand Slam success: "I'm feeling like I've been playing well this week and in general this year. I feel confident and I know I can win a Slam, but it's all about getting everything together. The draw has to fit. I have to play well for two weeks -- things like that all have to work together."

On ranking this win with other big ones: "Every title means something special to me. This one is very special to me as I was in the final here two years ago and the semifinals last year when I rolled my ankle, which was very unfortunate. So I'm really happy with this win and this has always been a great tournament for me."

On Hingis, retired but only 30: "Martina Hingis always knew what to do on court. She wasn't a big power hitter but she had an answer all over the court and that's what I've admired about her."

More aggressive

Other players had insight to Wozniacki's rolling thunder.

Irina Falconi, the former ACC Player of the Year at Georgia Tech, was asked after her 6-1, 6-1 loss to Wozniacki on Wednesday if she spotted any weaknesses.

"I don't know what her weaknesses are," Falconi said. "When you find out, let me know."

Vesnina had time to talk about the 2011 Family Circle Cup champ, even though she had just lost the singles title match and had precious minutes to prepare for Sunday's doubles final.

"It's just definitely she has improved her game since last year, because I played her two years in a row in the Ponte Vedra (Fla.) semifinals that went three sets," Vesnina said. "She was playing less aggressive than now."

You can see it the eyes.

Eyes focused on Paris, or at least Monaco.

Reach Gene Sapakoff at gsapakoff@postandcourier.com or 937-5593.