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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 Saturday, when she 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. |
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. | 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. |
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. | 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. |
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, 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. |
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. | 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. |
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. | 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. |
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. | 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.” | “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 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. | 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.” | 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.” | 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 final in 2009. | |
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. | 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. |
“It wasn’t the best year for me at the majors,” Wozniacki said, “but, you know, there is a next year.” | “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, 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 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. | 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’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. | 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 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. | 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. | So Robredo, not Evans, will face Federer in the fourth round. |