Wozniacki’s defense and consistency proved to be the decisive factors as Sharapova’s impressive attack came unglued by her errors. In fact, the telling statistic is the unforced errors count in which Sharapova committed 36 to Wozniacki’s 10. Among those 36 unforced errors were 9 double faults, three of which came consecutively in the first set to giftwrap Wozniacki’s first break of serve.
This was a terrific match featuring long, intense rallies. Sharapova is a fighter and she goes for her shots. She may have committed 36 unforced errors but she also hit 32 winners to Wozniacki’s 16. Wozniacki’s speed and defense make it very difficult for opponents to hit winners against her.
“I knew she was trying to be aggressive. For me it was important to keep as many balls in the court but still try to move her around and try to dictate, as well,” said Wozniacki in her postmatch press conference.
Sharapova did manage to break Wozniacki once to get back on serve in the first set. But it took her six break points to finally do it. Unfortunately for her, the energy she had to expend to get the break left her with nothing for her own service game. She went down 0–40 and was broken for 5–3.
“I felt like I played a couple of good points and then, make an easy error, hit a return long, or miss a first serve, give her many looks at second serve returns. I didn't feel like I put much pressure on her,” said Sharapova in her press conference.
Wozniacki hugged the baseline and only came to the net eight times. She set up the match point she’d convert with a volley winner. The match winning shot was a down-the-line backhand.
Both players had plenty of opportunities to break serve but Wozniacki did a better job at converting break points. Sharapova double faulted on two break points, one in each set.
Wozniacki, 20 and last year’s finalist, had hardly been tested until meeting Sharapova. The Danish star only dropped three games in winning her first three matches.
“I got a lot of experience from last year. That helped me a lot today,” said Wozniacki in an interview with CBS after the match.
She thanked the crowd and gave special credit to her father. “My dad’s my biggest supporter. It’s just amazing that he’s there for me.”
Wozniacki was awarded the No. 1 seed after Serena Williams, the top-ranked player on tour, pulled out due to a foot injury. She proved that she is a deserving top seed after beating one of the favorites for the title in Maria Sharapova.
Up next for Wozniacki is a very different type of opponent in Dominika Cibulkova from Slovakia. The Slovak, only 5-feet-3 inches, tall upset 2004 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova 7–5, 7–6. Cibulkova won’t have the power of Sharapova but she will also not commit as many errors.
Fried Fish
Mardy Fish’s run at the U.S. Open came to an abrupt end at the hands of No. 3 seed Novak Djokovic 6–3, 6–4, 6–1. The American seemed very passive and just didn’t have it against the Serb, who came up with his best performance of the tournament.
Djokovic, who is playing without a coach now, moved Fish all over the court. He is a much bigger, stronger, and younger opponent than Arnaud Clement, Fish’s previous opponent who took Fish to five sets.
“Whenever I had a chance, I took it,” Djokovic told CBS. “Overall I’m very happy with the way I played.”
Up next for Djokovic is France’s Gael Monfils, who beat countryman Richard Gasquet in straight sets.
Roger Federer extended his record to 13–0 in U.S. Open night matches beating Austria's Jurgen Melzer 6–3, 7–6, 6–3. He'll face a familiar opposition in Sweden's Robin Soderling in the quarterfinals next.
