Caroline Wozniacki may have had an up-and-down year, but she sure had an easy night Tuesday, crushing Sara Errani, 6-0, 6-1, to cruise into the U.S. Open semifinals. The Italian wasn’t bad, but Wozniacki, who had gone 10 straight Grand Slams without even reaching a quarterfinal, was that dominant.
“It means so much to me,” Wozniacki said in an on-court TV interview, alluding to her much-publicized breakup with fiancé and golf star Rory McIlroy after their wedding invitations had gone out. “It’s been a pretty up-and-down year for me, and to be here in the semifinals of the U.S. Open once again is just an incredible feeling. Definitely, hard work pays off.’’
But now, the most important thing on the 24-year-old Dane’s calendar is the semis against Peng Shuai, and a great shot at finally breaking through in a Grand Slam. Wozniacki has 22 tour titles, but has never won a Slam — the 2009 final in Flushing still her best finish. At 5-1 all-time versus her Chinese foe, she has a golden opportunity to at least duplicate — if not better — that feat.
Peng hasn’t dropped a set so far this Open, but Wozniacki is playing with burgeoning confidence. She upset fifth-seeded Maria Sharapova, needed just 29 minutes to shutout Errani in the first set, and — despite the swirling winds that kicked up in Arthur Ashe — went a perfect 34-of-34 on service returns.
Wozniacki has struggled against big servers in the past, but she faced a foe with a very weak and vulnerable serve. She’s clearly improved her own offense, honed her forehand and attacked more aggressively. Her training for November’s New York City Marathon has helped her conditioning.
After a first game that saw her double-fault with a serve that never even approached the net — “the second serve landed by my feet. I kind of knew it was going to be tricky with the wind,’’ said Woziacki — she adjusted to the gusting winds better than Errani.
“I feel confident and I feel comfortable out there. I’ve been playing well these last few months,” said Wonziacki, disproving doubters who’ve said her game wasn’t aggressive enough. “It’s just nice that it’s paying off here.
“I’ve proven people wrong so many times. I was told when I was young there’s no chance I’ll make the Top 100, Top 50, Top 30. Every time I’ve proven them wrong. It’s kind of nice.’’