New York-Caroline Wozniacki’s dramatic resurgence continued Tuesday when the former world number one defeated a hobbling Anastasija Sevastova to reach a fourth US Open semi-final. I know how she is playing.
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Now ranked at 74 in the world after a right ankle injury sidelined her for nearly three months, the Danish star hit just seven unforced errors in her win over Keys.
Latvia s Anastasija Sevastova backed up her shock win over third seed and French Open champion Garbine Muguruza by making the last 16 for the first time with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Kateryna Bonaderenko of the Ukraine. “For sure it was affecting my play but I’m not a person who likes to retire during a match”, she said. When I feel ready to open up and say something then I will, but for now I’m just here to play this tournament. “But for now, I’m just here to play this tournament”, she added. I could have played fantastic but still lost.
Kerber leads Wozniacki 7-5 in career meetings but they have never met at a Slam.
“I know it’s tough to repeat again the same results of previous year, but I’m in the quarter-final”.
“I think that’s kind of recharged my batteries”. You know, just I have gotten a lot of matches here, which is great.
The other women’s quarterfinal features two top-10 players: second-seeded Angelique Kerber, this year’s Australian Open champ, and No. 7 Roberta Vinci, last year’s U.S. Open runner-up. Vinci also won a U.S. Open doubles title in 2012 with Sara Errani – on Louis Armstrong Stadium, where she played Friday. The hope of the country will be in good hands with the budding star. “For me, what I also told already so many times, I’m trying to not put the pressure on myself, because I know I have to win a few more matches to reach the No. 1”.
Konta has powered past opponents with her serve and off the ground during this US Open, but against the Latvian looked to have trouble establishing a rhythm due to her opponent’s mix of slices, drop shots and net approaches between penetrating ground strokes.
But despite the brilliant week, talk of the 26-year-old retiring has begun swirling. Talking about this great run, she said, ‘I always believe if you work hard and you have belief, and obviously you give it your all, eventually it will turn. She believes the combination of the Wilson balls used at the U.S. Open and the speed of the courts is ideal for her game.
If she could make it all the way to the final then it is possible she could be doing her good friend Serena Williams a favour in her bid to hold off Kerber’s challenge for the world No 1 position.
A foot fault on set point in the opening set appeared to trip up Vinci and sent her tumbling out of the year’s final grand slam, with the second set lasting just 24 minutes.
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A semi-finalist at the 2016 Australian Open, the Sydney-born 13th seed Konta never allowed Bencic into the match, hitting eight aces as she matched her best effort in the season’s final grand slam at Flushing Meadows. “It’s really nice to be back here, it’s a special tournament”, Kerber said.
