This success may be what was needed to get Wozniacki back on track.
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Despite what has been a grueling month of August for the German, winning the silver medal at the Olympics and making the Cincinnati final, there seems to be no stopping for her.
And a lot of it was evident during her 6-0, 6-2 demolition of Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova on Tuesday in a quarterfinal match that ended Sevastova’s giant-killing run through the US Open.
Wozniacki, a US Open finalist in 2009 and 2014 but unseeded this year after being sidelined for two months by an ankle injury, dominated and wrapped up victory in just 78 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium court.
“To be honest, at this point, I’m very much like I don’t care [what my ranking is]”, the beaming victor said after she won. “Caroline played great”, Sevastova said.
“I always believe in myself, no matter what my ranking”, said Wozniacki, who used to be No. 1.
“For sure it was affecting my play but I’m not a person that likes to retire during a match, so I just tried my best”, said the 48th ranked Sevastova, who fought bravely to the finish.
Kerber could dethrone Serena Williams, who she has already faced in the Australian Open and Wimbledon finals this year, on top of the world rankings if results go her way.
She came out to play good tennis.
Her semifinal opponent on Thursday will be world No. 2 Angelique Kerber. But she eliminated 2004 champion Svetlanta Kuznetsova in the second round and No. 8 Madison Keys in the fourth. She kept Sevastova pinned deep behind the baseline, often finishing her off with smashes, same as she’d done against Keys in the previous round.
“I think it was a very fine line between being patient, consistent, and also trying to be aggressive and not step too far behind the baseline”, Wozniacki said. “It’s totally different watching and playing”.
Wozniacki was the year-end No. 1 for two consecutive years, starting in 2010. After about 1+ years away, during which she studied accounting and marketing in Austria, Sevastova made a decision to give the sport another go.
Wozniacki also had to deal with the much publicized end of her engagement to golfer Rory McIlroy in 2014.
On Tuesday, she was two points away from taking the first set when she served for it at 5-4, but she got broken there.
Until now, Wozniacki hadn’t been back to a Slam semifinal since.
While there is palpable excitement for National Football League fans in Los Angeles as they celebrate the return of the Rams to the city after two decades away in St. Louis, there is also a strong sense of “Let’s wait and see”. Immediately after the match, Pennetta announced she would leave the tour after last season. In the victory, Kerber won 61 percent of her first serve points and 29 percent of her second serve points.
But after she had brushed aside a slightly hobbled Anatasija Sevastova 6-0 6-2 she was asked to respond to comments made by her father and coach Piotr about her future.
She was criticized during her run as No. 1 for failing to win a major tournament. That’s what I care about, that I know that I can do it.
Kerber holds a 7-5 career record over Wozniacki. It’s a question that, in light of her rejuvenation, she can fortunately answer herself. “I’m really happy about the way I played”. She noted after her match that she keeps a place in the city, and practices at the McEnroe academy on Randalls Island. “I love to play here, I love this crowd”.
“This is insane”, Wozniacki said from courtside.
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“I really don’t want to be someone who says ‘I’m retiring, ‘ then, after two weeks, ‘No, I’m not retiring.’ ‘I’m retiring.’ ‘I’m not.’ I don’t know”. “That is something I’m extremely proud of”.
