Former world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki has continued her recent surge in form by scoring back-to-back wins in one day at the Volvo Car Open in Charleston.
A second round encounter saw the 2011 champion overcome Germany’s Annika Beck 7-5, 6-1. It was a far from straightforward match for the world No.12, who was forced to save eight out of 11 break points. Nevertheless, the current form of the Dane proved too much for Beck to contend with as she closed the match out after just over 90 minutes of play.
Wozniacki’s reward was a nighttime meeting with Anastasia Rodionova later on Thursday. The Australian has enjoyed a strong run at the tournament by coming throughout qualifying followed by wins over Duan Yingying and Sara Errani. The effects of playing a match earlier in the day proved to have little impact on Wozniacki as she eased through 6-3, 6-3, to book her place in the quarter-finals of the event.
“It was tough conditions to play in this wind, a little chilly tonight (Thursday) as well and then playing someone who doesn’t give you any rhythm,” Wozniacki said following her second win. “Obviously she plays a lot of doubles, so she was coming in, doing drop shots and hitting the ball hard and then slow. She was definitely trying to break my rhythm up, and it was difficult. But I managed to pull through.”
Seeded fifth in the tournament, the 26-year-old is the highest ranked player remaining in the tournament and the only former champion. She is now considered the main contender for the title following her recent run of results on the tour. Wozniacki has reached the final at three out of her past four tournaments, but is yet to win a title this season. On Thursday she scored her 25th match win of the season.
“I don’t want to think about it too much because I think once I start thinking about it, I’m going to mentally get really tired and drained,” Wozniacki expplained. “So right now I just keep pushing through, and I know I’m going to have a break after this, so that’s nice to think about. So I’m just going to give it all I have for this tournament, try and go all the way, and then I can take a well-deserved break after.”
Wozniacki will play Jelena Ostapenko in the last eight. The Latvian eased through her third round match after Hungarian teenager Fanny Stollár retired due to injury.
Sevastova and Kasatkina progress
Elsewhere at the tournament, eighth seeded Anastasija Sevastova edged her way past Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur 7-5, 7-6(8). Awaiting her in the last eight will be Laura Siegemund. The German eased past 15th seed Lucie Safarova 6-3, 6-2, with the help of a series of drop-shots.
“In general I think I played very aggressive today and put a lot of pressure on her at the beginning of the points . . .and the drop shot, of course, is always a weapon. Yeah, but today I really dominated.” Said Siegemund.
Daria Kasatkina overcame a second set blip to defeat Australia’s Daria Gavrilova 6-3, 4-6, 6-0. She will now play Irina-Camelia Begu, who knocked out sixth seed Sam Stosur in straight sets.
