Even though she’s from Denmark, Caroline Wozniacki should be a New Yorker. She loves it here, especially playing on Arthur Ashe Stadium at night.
“It’s so different, because you walk out and you basically can’t see the top stands,” she said after making easy work of Sara Errani, 6-0 6-1 to advance to the US Open Semifinals. “The crowd is always cheering even a little louder and it feels a little more cozy as well at the same time because it’s dark around. I don’t know. There is just something special about that atmosphere.”
Then there’s the Marathon, but that’s a story for November.
There’s something special about her tennis game. Older, wiser and maybe with a little to prove, Wozniacki is back in the Final Four for the first time since 2011 and looking to make the Finals for the first time since 2009.
“I have to say the finals [in 2009] feels closer than the semifinals 2011,” she said. “It’s weird. I don’t know. I don’t know. I think just because it was such a huge experience for me and it was my first really deep run in a Grand Slam. I’m just so happy to be back in this stage and having another match out there.”
She said her game has evolved, because of that she has an actual shot to win the whole match.
Wozniacki seems different. She’s confident and in the best shape of her career.
And it helps that Golfer That Must Not Be Named won a few majors this year in his sport.
However, she’s not talking about that, but old Rory obviously looms out there and it gives her purpose. And maybe some focus on the task at hand.
That includes the evolution of her game.
“It’s definitely evolved,” she said. “I’m definitely more experienced. I know my game much better. I have been in these big matches before, and, you know, I think all the time I improve. I think everybody improves and wants to try and get better. Women’s tennis keeps getting stronger. So, you know, I think I keep putting things onto my game. I try and, you know, have more — or stronger serves, better returns, you know, kind of the first few points.
It remains to be seen if she can beat Serena, but first has to take out Peng Shuai, who beat Belinda Belcic today.
“She’s been playing well,” she said. “She’s playing aggressively. She she’s strong from both sides. She’s been serving well. It’s going to be a difficult match. It’s going to be a different match than against Sara today. Sara runs a lot of balls down, doesn’t make many mistake. Peng is closer to the baseline going for her shots more. It’s going to be a hard one, but, again, it’s going to fun.”
That’s what she seems to be having again. If she gets through the Chinese veteran, then who knows? Serena is obviously the favorite, the No. 1 seed has imploded before.
And maybe, just maybe, the girl who no one expected to do anything this tournament will call Flushing Meadows home.
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