Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki secured a monumental win over ninth seed and former champion Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 to reach the French Open quarterfinals.
11th seed and former world number one Caroline Wozniacki broke her clay court dry spell, upsetting ninth seed and 2009 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 to reach only her second French Open quarterfinal and her first in Paris since 2010. Wozniacki, who’s best result this clay court season came with a quarterfinal appearance in Charleston, looked confident and aggressive throughout, as a multitude of unforced errors from the racquet of Kuznetsova led the Dane to her best win in her career at Roland Garros.
In the opening set, Wozniacki and Kuznetsova exchanged holds of serve in the first two games of the set before an easy break in the fourth game for the 11th seed gifted the Dane a 3-1 lead. The former world number one backed that advantage up, holding to consolidate the break before sealing the double break the following game to go up 5-1 and give herself the chance to serve for the opening set. Wozniacki kept on rolling, serving the set out to the loss of a solitary point to snatch the first set 6-1 and move herself a set from a second Roland Garros last eight.
The second set was a far different affair, as two-time US Open finalist Wozniacki begun with a comfortable break out of the gates before Kuznetsova pegged back to level the set at 1-all. The pair were then dominant on serve for the next six games as they went back and forth holding for 4-all. The Russian applied pressure on Wozniacki, taking a comfortable hold of serve to bring the score to 5-4 and force the Dane to serve to stay in the set. The former world number one was under siege against a relentless Kuznetsova return game, surrendering the break and with it the set 6-4 to force a decider on Court Philippe Chatrier.
In the third set, it was a similar start as in the prior two for Wozniacki, sending a statement early as she utilized a powerful, aggressive return game to take a double break lead on Kuznetsova for 3-0. The veteran 2009 winner fought back though, stealing one of the breaks back for 3-2, only to surrender that break in the seventh game of the set as the Dane broke at love to go up 5-2 and send herself a hold of serve away from the last eight. Wozniacki didn’t look back, serving out the match to love, punctuated with a sizzling backhand down the line winner to advance 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 to her second quarterfinal here in Paris.
Following the match, Wozniacki was feeling confident about her clay court form despite a tough go of it on the red clay prior to Paris, failing to win back to back matches in any of her tournaments ahead of Roland Garros.
“Yeah, it was definitely a good win. Svetlana obviously plays really well on this surface. I knew it was going to be a tough match going in,” said Wozniacki.
“I started off really, really well. My game plan was working and kind of kept her on her toes with putting in some dropshots and mixing up the pace. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. I knew that she was going to try to fight her way back. She did in the second set, but I managed to close it off in three, which I’m happy about,” added an excited 11th seed.
Asked about her return to the French Open quarterfinals, her first since 2010, the Dane said, ” I felt good all year. I have been playing well and confidently. I felt pretty good going into the tournament. Yeah, obviously it’s just kind of clicking this week. Hopefully I can keep going this way.”
Up next for Wozniacki is Charleston finalist Jelena Ostapenko, who owns wins over Wozniacki in Charleston and Prague so far this clay court season. Asked about her next opponent, the former world number one said, ” Ostapenko goes for her shots and plays flat. When she’s on fire, she’s tough. I think she can be a little bit more up and down,” concluded Wozniacki.
The two-time US Open finalist will face Ostapenko for a spot in the semifinals on Tuesday here in Paris.
