Wozniacki eliminated by Kuznetsova
Posted by carowoz on Jan.21, 2013
MELBOURNE, Australia — After twice failing to win her breakthrough major as the No. 1-ranked woman at the Australian Open, Caroline Wozniacki is now expected to drop out of the top 10 after a fourth-round loss to a resurgent Svetlana Kuznetsova on Monday.
Wozniacki had the top ranking for the 2011 and 2012 editions of the season’s first major but lost in a semifinal two years ago and in a quarterfinal last year. Her 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 defeat to two-time Grand Slam event winner Kuznetsova in the round of 16 this time follows consecutive first-round exits at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.
Kuznetsova, 27, is moving in the other direction, after beginning the tournament at No. 75. She’s on a comeback from a right knee injury that kept her out of the last U.S. Open, ending a run of contesting 40 consecutive majors.
Kuznetsova advanced into a quarterfinal match and will face No. 1-ranked Victoria Azarenka or Elena Vesnina.
Play on Day 7 ran into Day 8 overnight, when Novak Djokovic needed just over five hours to beat Stanislas Wawrinka, 1-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 12-10, in a fourth-round match Sunday night, on the same court where he needed 5 hours 53 minutes to beat Rafael Nadal in last year’s final.
“I just had flashback of 2012,” said Djokovic, who ripped off his shirt to celebrate again, as he did last year. “It was maybe 45 minutes less this match than the one 12 months ago, but still it was still as exciting. I tried to enjoy the moment and couldn’t ask for more. What a match point … unbelievable.”
The win was Djokovic’s 18th in a row at Melbourne Park after winning the last two Australian titles, and earned him a place in a quarterfinal of a 15th consecutive major.
Wawrinka said he would take more positives than negatives out of the match. He led, 5-2, in the second set after outplaying Djokovic in the first.
“For sure, I think the best match I have ever played,” Wawrinka said. “I fought like a dog like always. At 4-4 in the final set, I thought I might have won the match, but he was just better.”
Djokovic will play No. 5 Tomas Berdych, who beat Kevin Anderson, 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (13).
Fourth-seeded David Ferrer advanced with a 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 victory over No. 16 Kei Nishikori to set up a quarterfinal match with Nicolas Almagro.
Roger Federer was to play Milos Raonic later Monday and U.S. Open champion Andy Murray was to face Gilles Simon.
Serena Williams, aiming for a third consecutive major title, will play a fourth-round match against No. 14 Maria Kirilenko.
Wozniacki had the top ranking for the 2011 and 2012 editions of the season’s first major but lost in a semifinal two years ago and in a quarterfinal last year. Her 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 defeat to two-time Grand Slam event winner Kuznetsova in the round of 16 this time follows consecutive first-round exits at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.
Kuznetsova, 27, is moving in the other direction, after beginning the tournament at No. 75. She’s on a comeback from a right knee injury that kept her out of the last U.S. Open, ending a run of contesting 40 consecutive majors.
Kuznetsova advanced into a quarterfinal match and will face No. 1-ranked Victoria Azarenka or Elena Vesnina.
Play on Day 7 ran into Day 8 overnight, when Novak Djokovic needed just over five hours to beat Stanislas Wawrinka, 1-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 12-10, in a fourth-round match Sunday night, on the same court where he needed 5 hours 53 minutes to beat Rafael Nadal in last year’s final.
“I just had flashback of 2012,” said Djokovic, who ripped off his shirt to celebrate again, as he did last year. “It was maybe 45 minutes less this match than the one 12 months ago, but still it was still as exciting. I tried to enjoy the moment and couldn’t ask for more. What a match point … unbelievable.”
The win was Djokovic’s 18th in a row at Melbourne Park after winning the last two Australian titles, and earned him a place in a quarterfinal of a 15th consecutive major.
Wawrinka said he would take more positives than negatives out of the match. He led, 5-2, in the second set after outplaying Djokovic in the first.
“For sure, I think the best match I have ever played,” Wawrinka said. “I fought like a dog like always. At 4-4 in the final set, I thought I might have won the match, but he was just better.”
Djokovic will play No. 5 Tomas Berdych, who beat Kevin Anderson, 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (13).
Fourth-seeded David Ferrer advanced with a 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 victory over No. 16 Kei Nishikori to set up a quarterfinal match with Nicolas Almagro.
Roger Federer was to play Milos Raonic later Monday and U.S. Open champion Andy Murray was to face Gilles Simon.
Serena Williams, aiming for a third consecutive major title, will play a fourth-round match against No. 14 Maria Kirilenko.
TAGS:my game,on the court
