Former world No.1 Serena Williams had to overcome both mother nature and her opponent at the ASB Classic to progress to the semifinals.
The top seed struggled at times with the windy conditions in the New Zealand capital against Germany’s Laura Siegemund en route to her 6-4, 6-3, victory. Throughout the 87-minute clash, Williams withstood some spirited play from across the court as she dropped serve only once. Coming back from a break down in the second set, Williams produced a total of 26 winners. Including six aces.
“I am definitely not super comfortable. I am trying. I would do a little bit better if I wasn’t hitting every shot in a conundra of wind,” Williams told reporters following the match.
“I got a little negative in the end. It was just so windy.
“It was good for me to fight … she stepped up and hit a lot of good winners. It was not easy. I had to step up and play a little better and get through it.”
Playing in her first tournament since the US Open last September, the 38-year-old has now scored wins over Camila Giorgi, Christina McHale and Siegemund. It is only the second time she has reached the last four of a WTA event outside of the grand slams since becoming a mother. Her first was last year at the Rogers Cup.
The wins places Williams on good footing ahead of the Australian Open, where she is bidding to win a record-equalling 24th grand slam title. A milestone currently held by Margaret Court.
“I definitely feel that [I’m starting to get into good shape for the Australian Open], and I feel like my match yesterday [against McHale] was great” Williams assessed. “It’s great that I went three sets, and it’s great that I ran so much. I came out today just overall feeling better and doing better.
“Especially the match fitness – I’m super fit, but match fitness is a little different, so I think all these matches are really helping.”
Prior to the Melbourne major, Williams’ first focus is on Auckland and her next opponent. Awaiting her in the semi-finals will be Amanda Anisimova. The third seed battled to a 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, win over Eugenie Bouchard in her quarter-final match.
“It’s been my lifelong dream. Before the tournament I said in an interview that my biggest wish is to play her before she retires.” Anisimova commented about her upcoming clash with Williams.
“This is the happiest I’ve ever been.”
Wozniacki dumps reigning champion out
Soon-to-be-retired Caroline Wozniacki is another top name through to the semi-finals of the tournament. The fifth seed dropped just five games during her comprehensive 6-1, 6-4, win over 2019 champion Julia Goerges. During their clash Wozniacki hit nine winners 11 unforced errors, but capitalised on Goerges’ tally of 24 unforced errors.
Despite the victory, Wozniacki was far from happy about her latest performance. Admitting that there was areas of her game that could have been improved. It is the third time she has beaten Goerges in the quarter-finals of the Auckland tournament. She also did so in 2015 and 2017.
“It doesn’t look good for you if you don’t have a rhythm, that’s what I felt today and she played a very good match,” stuff.co.nz quoted Wozniacki as saying.
“I don’t think it was anything spectacular in general, she just made it very tough for me and I gave it a bit too easy to her here and there.
“Serving was very average today, for one of my biggest weapons. I think if going too many times over the second serve she tries to step in and puts a bit more pressure on me, than the other way around when I have a lot of first serves in.
“So I didn’t really do a good job here and there.
“I tried to fight as good as I can, make it tough for her, because I know she feels the pressure once I’m in there and I’m trying to take it away a little bit from her.”
The 29-year-old is set to retire from tennis following her campaign at the Australian Open. In Auckland, she will next play unseeded player Jessica Pegula. Pegula got through after Alize Cornet retired during their match.
