Wozniacki will take on Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova for a place in the semi-finals.
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“I’m just working my way through”, Wozniacki said. Something important about her seems changed.
“I know that I can beat everybody”, Kerber said, “and this is what gives me also a lot of confidence and motivation”. I think it is never easy to play a quarter-final against a French guy.
Unseeded after an average year heading to NY, the win means Wozniacki is into a US Open semi-final for a fifth time.
Sevastova, the first Latvian to reach a grand slam quarter-final, saw her US Open hopes come to a painful end when she rolled over her ankle chasing down a ball on Wozniacki’s opening serve and was unable to challenge her Danish opponent despite bravely fighting on until the end.
She knows what Kerber has on the line at this tournament.
When the U.S. Open began eight days ago, Wozniacki looked like she would be making a swift departure. She used to be the best counterpuncher on tour, bar none. The match truly looks even-handed as Keys has been tested in NY while Wozniacki’s ranking doesn’t reflect her level of play at the moment. “We are similar in that we are both hard working”. 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. “But for now I’m just here to play this tournament”. “It’s totally different watching and playing”.
But from the end of 2010 through 2011 she was No. 1 for 67 straight weeks.
Pliskova is 24, 10 years younger than Serena and 12 years younger than Venus, and remembers watching them play on TV as she grew up. She constantly had her bona fides questioned then – and even now, at age 26 – because she still hasn’t won a Grand Slam title.
Wozniacki, who completed the New York City marathon inside three hours, 30 minutes after her loss to Serena Williams in the 2014 final, is back in full stride, as she showed by chasing down every shot that an increasingly frustrated Keys conjured up.
Wozniacki and Kerber have met 11 times, won four victories, Carolyn, and 7 times the success celebrating Angelique.
Wozniacki climbed to world number one in 2010 but her troubles have seen her drop outside the top 50 this year for the first time in nearly a decade.
The Dane, a two-time runner-up at Flushing Meadows, claimed a 6-0 6-2 victory over Sevastova, who battled a right ankle injury. She’s been playing really well this year. “I didn’t expect to be here at this point of my life after retiring, so I don’t know what to say really”. “Because when she’s on fire, she’s on fire, and there is not much you can do about it”, said Wozniacki discussing her gameplan for the fourth round encounter.
After today, she deserves a moment for herself. They usually let me in and let me in and train for as long as I want.
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“I’m not surprised that I could make it this far because I always believe in myself and I always think that when I got on court I always believe that I’ll win the match”.
