It is an intriguing semi-final clash between Wozniacki, a former world No. 1 who has never won a Grand Slam title, and Kerber, the No. 2 who claimed her first Major at the Australian Open in January.
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She made the final here in 2009 but lost to Kim Clijsters and was beaten by Williams in the title match two years ago.
In the second game of the match, the 26 year-old slipped, fell and twisted her ankle.
“Even if I had no injury, it would’ve been tough to beat her”.
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.
Angelique Kerber has reached her third major final this year after dispatching Caroline Wozniacki in straight sets at the U.S. Open.
Caroline Wozniacki knows something about being No. 1 and she’s not afraid to talk about it. It happened early in the match, and then I kept kind of just pushing her back and tried to make her move.. “But for now, I’m just here to play this tournament”, she added.
The Woz trails Kerber 5-7 in their career meetings, and Kerber won their most recent encounter in Beijing past year.
Defeated US Open quarter-finalist Roberta Vinci said Angelique Kerber was “on fire” after the German overcame three first set service breaks to secure a place in the last-four on Tuesday. With a set and confidence under her belt, Kerber let it flow in the second set, dictating play while committing only two unforced errors en route to a 6-0 bagel.
Wozniacki is a two-time runner-up at Flushing Meadows, but she is unseeded and ranked only 74th after a season filled with injuries and poor results.
“It feels great”, she told press when asked about returning to the semifinals. “I know this. We know each other very well. Putting aside my injuries, I’m playing good tennis”. I could have played unbelievable but still lost.
“It’s always tough to play Roberta, she always comes out to play great tennis”, said Kerber, who last made the semi-finals in NY in 2011. Finally holding serve easily, she got within a game of evening the set at 4-5. “I’m sure that she is going to do everything to get that ranking”.
“I think I was just a little extra focused”, Wozniacki said. Hopefully I have two more matches here’. It’s a number she really doesn’t care about, but after this run to the semifinal, that ranking will change substantially. “I had nothing to lose and I just came here looking to play good tennis”.
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The Italian aimed sarcastic applause and a thumbs-up at the impassive line judge, but the veteran never regained her composure as she garnered just 10 points in a 24-minute second set. “The atmosphere, the crowd, everything is great”, said Vinci who knocked out Serena Williams in the semi-finals in 2015 before losing the final to compatriot Flavia Pennetta.
