Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki has suffered a straight sets loss to Daria Kasatkina in the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
The second seed struggled behind her second serve throughout the match, getting broken six times and only winning 29% of the points behind her second serve. Wozniacki had numerous chances to take control of the match, but she was unable to capitalise on them. At the start of the match she was leading 3-0 and was also 5-3 up in the second set.
“I think obviously it’s a frustrating match because it felt like a lot of the match was on my racquet. I was trying to dictate a lot. I was making winners. I had mistakes. And coming to the net quite often.” Said Wozniacki.
“She did well getting the serve really high. On this surface especially, the ball bounces really high. It’s unusual that we play on surfaces like this, but I think it fits her game that it slows down the ball.
“She outsmarted me today, which is fair enough. But, at least I tried, and I tried to do what I thought I needed to do out there today. I just couldn’t execute as well as I wanted to.”
It is the second time Wozniacki has lost to the Russian 20-year-old this season after St. Petersburg. Kasatkina is currently at a ranking high of 19th in the world following her run to the final of the Dubai Tennis Championships. Where she produced wins over Johanna Konta and Garbine Muguruza.
Speaking about the conditions this year, the Dane believes that speed has slowed down a lot compared to previous years. Something that has also been mentioned by other players. Wozniacki believes it now favours those that like to play on the clay.
“I think it reminds you a little bit of clay, this court, except the ball bounces even higher and goes even slower.” She said. “I think for the people that love to play on clay and the game style that fits that kind of court, I think this is an awesome court and an awesome tournament to play, but I definitely think they have slowed down the courts this year even more than it used to.”
In the quarter-finals., Kasatkina will take on Angelique Kerber. The two-time grand slam champion thrashed Caroline Garcia 6-1, 6-1.
Venus progresses
Venus Williams has also progressed to the last eight of the tournament, 20 years after the first time she did. The eighth seed battled her way past world No.20 Anastasija Sevastova 7-6(6), 6-4. It was a far from straightforward task for the American, who was trailing in both sets before coming from behind.
“It was honestly a very good match. Well-competed on both sides.” Williams said after the win.
Bidding for a place in the last four of the tournament for the first time since 2001, Williams faces Carla Suarez Navarro. A player she leads 5-3 in their head-to-head. Unlike Sevastova, the 36-year-old admits that she will feel more comfortable when she played against the Spaniard.
“I think the big difference is I played her more than the girl (Kasatkina) today (Tuesday). I really didn’t know her game. So today was, like, also a learning — what works? What doesn’t work? How does this player — what’s the rhythm like? I don’t think there will be as many surprises if I play her.” She explained.
Williams is one of three top eight seeds left in the women’s draw. The others are Simona Halep and Karolina Pliskova.
