Before the U.S. Open began 10 days ago in NY, former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki had gone just 13-14 in 27 matches this season, a season interrupted by a bad sprained ankle which had sent her tumbling down the rankings to No. 74 in the world – her lowest in nine years.
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It’s an intriguing semi-final clash between a former world No. 1 who has never won a Grand Slam title and the current No. 2 who claimed a first Major at the Australian Open in January.
Now in the semis, Kerber is one match away from facing Serena Williams for a blockbuster final that would determine who exits the US Open with the No. 1 ranking.
I think the great thing about our little group is that we have hung out for years and it doesn’t matter who is No. 1 or who is lower ranked, we always have our little clique. “I know that I can beat everybody, and this is what gives me also a lot of confidence and motivation for going out there and playing with a lot of emotion”.
Roberta Vinci fell apart after losing the opening set on a foot fault, allowing No. 2 seed Angelique Kerber to take last nine games and win their U.S. Open quarterfinal 7-5, 6-0 on Tuesday.
After watching Sevastova crash to the court and then get up, Wozniacki said she had taken no chances with a spot in the semi-finals on the line. She didn’t win a Grand Slam title during that time, nor has she ever, but she consistently won top-tier events and reached at least the quarterfinals of almost every tournament. It’s all I’m focused on right now.
Kerber, on the other hand has been in scintillating form and it is form that has been held over a long stretch of time after picking up the silver medal at the Rio Olympics.
“For sure it was affecting my play but I’m not a person that likes to retire during a match, so I tried my best, ” Sevastova said, who retired from the sport for two years because of back issues.
“I’m staying more positive and believing in my game”, Kerber said.
“I do not know if Caroline will only play the rest of the season or if she will play another one”, her father Piotr told Danish tabloid Ekstra Bladet, according to the Post’s report. “To be honest right now, my head isn’t anywhere”, she said. “The day came today, and to be now the number one in the world, that was always a dream for me”, she added.
Kerber – the Australian Open champion who also finished as runner-up at Wimbledon – confessed that stepping onto the court knowing she was world number one made it hard to concentrate. She has yet to win a Grand Slam title.
The Italian was runner-up to compatriot Flavia Pennetta in 2015 after shattering Serena Williams’ bid for a calendar Grand Slam with a shock win in the semi-final.
Caroline Wozniacki makes quick work of Anastasija Sevastova to cruise into the US Open seims.
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Wozniacki moves on to face Angelique Kerber in the semifinals. “Caroline played great”, Sevastova said. “I know this. We know each other very well”. She never got sharp or refused to answer the same question over and over, but she had a lot more of Clijsters in her than Williams, now a close friend but one of the most rapacious winners on tour.
