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Italian Qualifier Ends Wozniacki’s Climb Back to Top Italian Qualifier Ends Wozniacki’s Climb Back to Top
(35 minutes later)
The former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki’s streak of early Grand Slam exits continued on Saturday, when the now eighth-ranked Dane was eliminated in the third round of the United States Open. The former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki’s streak of early Grand Slam exits continued Saturday, when she was eliminated in the third round of the United States Open.
Wozniacki, who had spent 67 weeks as the world’s top ranked player but has failed to capture a major tournament title, had not been able to advance out of the fourth round at the season’s previous three Grand Slams. The United States Open appeared to offer her perhaps her best opportunity to play deeper into the tournament and quiet some of her doubters. She had dispatched Ying-Ying Duan, of China, and cruised past Chanelle Scheepers, of South Africa, in the first two rounds, and the draw had developed nicely for Wozniacki, who next faced the 136th-ranked Camila Giorgi. If she could get by Giorgi, she would not face a higher-seeded opponent until the semifinals at the earliest. The eighth-ranked Wozniacki, who had spent 67 weeks as the world’s top ranked player but has failed to capture a major tournament title, had not been able to advance out of the fourth round at the season’s previous three Grand Slams.
But Giorgi, the 21-year old qualifier from Italy, was considered the type of player — an aggressive ball-striker that goes for broke — that could cause her headaches. And, from the start Giorgi challenged Wozniacki on her way to a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory at Arthur Ashe Stadium, and sent Wozniacki to another early exit. The Open appeared to offer her best opportunity to play deeper into the tournament and quiet some of her doubters. She had dispatched Ying-Ying Duan of China and cruised past Chanelle Scheepers of South Africa in the first two rounds, and the draw had developed nicely for Wozniacki, who next faced the 136th-ranked Camila Giorgi. If she could get by Giorgi, she would not face a higher-seeded opponent until the semifinals at the earliest.
In the first set, when Giorgi hit the net, at 4-4, and gave Wozniacki a break point, Wozniacki held her left fist high and firm, appearing energized. She won the set, and it seemed she would maintain control. But Giorgi, a 21-year old qualifier from Italy, was an aggressive ball-striker who could cause her headaches. From the start, Giorgi challenged Wozniacki on her way to a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory at Arthur Ashe Stadium, and sent Wozniacki to another early exit.
But Giorgi came back inspired in the second, hitting 17 winners compared with two for Wozniacki. Giorgi began to dictate the pace of the match. She had the speed to track down Wozniacki’s return, the power to beat Wozniacki with her forehand, and the energy to keep it up. The seventh-seeded Roger Federer restored some order to the night session at Ashe, breezing past Adrian Mannarino of France, 6-3, 6-0, 6-2, in 1 hour 21 minutes.
She controlled the third set the same way, ending the match with a strong forehand down the line that Wozniacki could only lunge at. Now it was Giorgi who pumped her fist, and Wozniacki who waved halfheartedly, clearly dejected, as she left the court. Early on it appeared Wozniacki  might also have an easier night. In the first set, when Giorgi hit the net at 4-4 and gave Wozniacki a break point, Wozniacki held her left fist high and firm, appearing energized. She won the set, and it seemed then that she would maintain control.
Giorgi, who had made Wozniacki work so hard, smiled wide as the crowd cheered. She will next face fellow Italian Roberta Vinci the No. 10 seed, with a berth in the quarterfinals at stake. But Giorgi charged back in the second set, hitting 17 winners to Wozniacki’s 2. Giorgi began to dictate the pace of the match. She had the speed to track down Wozniacki’s returns, the power to beat Wozniacki with her forehand, and the energy to keep it up.
“She put me under pressure and I started to play a little short, and then all of a sudden she was all over the ball,” Wozniacki said, adding, “She was going for the lines and she was hitting them when she wanted to.”
Giorgi controlled the third set the same way, ending the match with a strong forehand down the line that Wozniacki could only lunge at. Now it was Giorgi who pumped her fist, and Wozniacki waved halfheartedly, clearly dejected, as she left the court.
Giorgi smiled wide as the crowd cheered. She will next face fellow Italian Roberta Vinci, the No. 10 seed, with a berth in the quarterfinals at stake.
Asked why she thought she won, Giorgi said the reason was tactical. Asked to explain her tactics, she said, “Just when the ball came, just hit the ball in the corners.”
She added, “I hope to stay like this for the last week.”
Wozniacki exited in the first round at the Open last year, as she dealt with a right knee injury. It was yet another disappointment, after she had lost in the first round at Wimbledon that year, and after she had reached the semifinals at the Open the two previous years, in 2011 and 2010, and the finals in 2009.Wozniacki exited in the first round at the Open last year, as she dealt with a right knee injury. It was yet another disappointment, after she had lost in the first round at Wimbledon that year, and after she had reached the semifinals at the Open the two previous years, in 2011 and 2010, and the finals in 2009.
Wozniacki has not advanced to the semifinals of a Grand Slam since she did so at the Open in 2011. Despite her drop in the rankings, Wozniacki remained positive about her game. Wozniacki has not advanced to the semifinals of a Grand Slam since she did so at the Open in 2011, a trend she had hoped to change this season.
“I think I always improve as a player,” she said. “I think I’m playing good tennis. I think I’ve improved since then.” “It wasn’t the best year for me at the majors,” Wozniacki said, “but, you know, there is a next year.”
As Giorgi was completing her upset of Wozniacki, Daniel Evans, the 23-year-old qualifier from Britain, fell apart against Tommy Robredo, the No. 19 seed from Spain, at Louis Armstrong Stadium, losing 7-6 (6), 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 As Giorgi was completing her upset of Wozniacki, Daniel Evans, the 23-year-old qualifier from Britain, fell apart against Tommy Robredo, the No. 19 seed from Spain, at Louis Armstrong Stadium, 7-6 (6), 6-1, 4-6, 7-5.
Evans had made a bit of a name for himself this week, reaching the third round despite being ranked 179th in the world. He upset the No. 11 seed Kei Nishikori, of Japan, in the first round, in straight sets. He practiced Wednesday with Roger Federer, and then beat Bernard Tomic of Australia on Thursday, in four sets. Evans had reached the third round despite being ranked No. 179 in the world. He upset the No. 11 seed Kei Nishikori of Japan in the first round in straight sets. He practiced Wednesday with Roger Federer, and then beat Bernard Tomic of Australia on Thursday in four sets.
Federer had complimented Evans, saying he had “a great shot,” and for much of the first set, Evans lived up to his previous play and Federer’s kind words. He pumped forehands into the corners, making Robredo work, and spun shots with his one-handed backhand that awed the crowd, but Robredo outlasted him in the tiebreaker. Federer had complimented Evans’s game after their practice session, saying he had “a great shot,” and for much of the first set, Evans lived up to his previous play and Federer’s words. He pumped forehands into the corners, making Robredo work, and spun shots with his one-handed backhand, but Robredo outlasted him in the tiebreaker.
Evans often swore loudly at his own miscues, as he flopped in the second set. But he played a cleaner third, settled into his serve, and broke Robredo to stay alive. Then for a moment, while Robredo appeared to nurse a leg injury, there seemed to be a chance that Evans would rally and continue his run in this tournament. But Robredo mustered enough energy to finish off Evans in the fourth. Evans swore at his miscues, as he flopped in the second. But he played a cleaner third, settled into his serve, and broke Robredo to stay alive. Then for a moment, when Robredo appeared to attend to a leg injury, there seemed to be a chance that Evans would rally and continue his run in this tournament. But Robredo mustered enough energy to finish off Evans in the fourth set.
So Robredo, not Evans, will face Federer in the fourth round.