Defending champion Caroline Wozniacki has crashed out of the semi-finals of the Dubai Tennis Championships, falling to Julia Goerges 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 on Friday.

The former top-ranked Dane led 4-2 in the second set before Goerges regained control to close out the match in just over two hours.

“I didn’t play my best game today,” Wozniacki said. “Made way too many unforced errors, and Julia took advantage of that.”

Goerges will face Agnieszka Radwanska in the final on Saturday after the Polish player beat Jelena Jankovic of Serbia 6-2 2-6 6-0 in the first semi-final.

Wozniacki said she struggled with her serve throughout the match, while Goerges never let her find her rhythm once the ball was in play.

“I felt I had all the opportunities in the world today and didn’t take advantage of them. If you don’t take your chances, there is no way to win,” Wozniacki said.

“It’s easy to say I should have done this and could have done that. But, you know, as well for Julia she took her chances. If I came with a weak shot she was there straight away and she punished me.”

The fifth-seeded Radwanska jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the first set before winning it in 33 minutes.

The 22-year-old Polish player faltered in the second when her Serbian opponent broke twice, but then regrouped and wrapped up the win without losing another game.

Radwanska said she regained her confidence by breaking early in the third set, causing the eighth-seeded Jankovic to lose focus.

“Actually she just start to play much better in the second set. I was really in trouble,” Radwanska said.

“But in the third set, I was just trying to be focused on my game and just fight until the end.

“I think also the second game of this third set was the key in this match. Because I think I really get more confident after that and I think she get a bit angry.”