Top 10 Stories from the 2016 U.S. Open
By Isobel Moody
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 06: Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark returns a shot to Anastasija Sevastova of Lativa during their Women’s Singles Quarterfinals match (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
7. Caroline Wozniacki’s Run to the Semi-Finals
Caroline Wozniacki too had her biggest breakthrough at the 2009 U.S. Open, making and losing the first of her two slam finals. She ended 2010 as World Number One. But starting in 2012, she started to go into decline, struggling throughout 2013, before recovering in 2014, and even make her second slam final. Again, that was here at the U.S. Open. Unfortunately, her opponent was Serena. It was last year that the injuries started coming, keeping her out for sections of 2015 and the entire clay court season this year. Even when she was playing she suffered many early losses. She came into the U.S. Open ranked 74th and without a slam match win all year.
But once again, the U.S. Open proved her lucky event. She lost the first set she played in Flushing Meadows, but wouldn’t lose another one until the semi-finals. Her opponents weren’t necessarily nobody either; she took down rising American Madison Keys in the fourth. She also took down former champion Svetlana Kuznetsova earlier in the second round, where she came back from 0-4 down in the first set to win in straights. In the semi-finals she went down to the eventual champion, but after all she’d been through, getting that far was a triumph.
It may be further heightened by being a last hurrah. Wozniacki’s father has suggested she may retire at the end of the year. She herself currently isn’t commenting on it. Though there’s always the possibility this success might make her reconsider.
Next: Rafael Nadal Loses, Not Impressed