Caroline unshaken by setback
10 Sept 2014 4:21 AM IST
So the tenacious Dane was already thinking about what she’ll do the next time she gets a shot at Serena Williams, not long after the world number one virtually ran her off Arthur Ashe Stadium court 6-3, 6-3 to win the US Open.
‘Next time I’m going to play her, I’m just going to try again. Serve well and return well, that’s what you have to do. On Monday, she was just too good,’ said Wozniacki.
Wozniacki’s stellar defensive skills have rarely been enough against Williams, who has won nine of their 10 encounters. They have helped propel the Dane to 22 WTA titles and back in 2010 and 2011 spells atop the world rankings, but she has now come up empty-handed in just two Grand Slam finals, five years apart. ‘I had a game plan in mind, but it was kind of difficult at the start,’ said Wozniacki, who admitted to some early jitters in the packed 23,771-capacity Ashe stadium. ‘I was a little nervous going out there,’ she said. ‘When you walk into the stadium and people are screaming so loud you can’t hear what you’re thinking yourself, so it’s kind of overwhelming. But it’s such a cool experience.’
Despite the disappointment, Wozniacki said reaching the final confirmed she was moving in the right direction with her game. ‘I have had a great two weeks here. I have played really well this summer,’ said Wozniacki. Since a first-round French Open exit she has built a 25-6 record includes three wins over top-10 players in August. She couldn’t get past her good friend Williams, however, falling to her in three sets in Montreal and Cincinnati before their Flushing Meadows title showdown.
‘Next time I’m going to play her, I’m just going to try again. Serve well and return well, that’s what you have to do. On Monday, she was just too good,’ said Wozniacki.
Wozniacki’s stellar defensive skills have rarely been enough against Williams, who has won nine of their 10 encounters. They have helped propel the Dane to 22 WTA titles and back in 2010 and 2011 spells atop the world rankings, but she has now come up empty-handed in just two Grand Slam finals, five years apart. ‘I had a game plan in mind, but it was kind of difficult at the start,’ said Wozniacki, who admitted to some early jitters in the packed 23,771-capacity Ashe stadium. ‘I was a little nervous going out there,’ she said. ‘When you walk into the stadium and people are screaming so loud you can’t hear what you’re thinking yourself, so it’s kind of overwhelming. But it’s such a cool experience.’
Despite the disappointment, Wozniacki said reaching the final confirmed she was moving in the right direction with her game. ‘I have had a great two weeks here. I have played really well this summer,’ said Wozniacki. Since a first-round French Open exit she has built a 25-6 record includes three wins over top-10 players in August. She couldn’t get past her good friend Williams, however, falling to her in three sets in Montreal and Cincinnati before their Flushing Meadows title showdown.
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