GREAT DANE
WOZNIACKI MAKES PROGRESS:
CAROLINE Wozniacki is not thinking about a first Grand Slam title, saying there’s still “a long way to go” after storming into the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Sunday.
The world number two handed out a tennis masterclass to 2017 Wimbledon semi-finalist Magdalena Rybarikova 6-3, 6-0 in 63 minutes of mesmerising shot-making on Rod Laver Arena.
Angelique Kerber is the only Grand Slam champion remaining in the draw meaning Wozniacki (pictured) may never have a better chance to get off the mark. But the Dane was in no mood to think about breaking her duck with an Australian Open title, nine years after making her first major final at the US Open.
“No,” she replied when asked by reporters if she could see her hands on the trophy yet. “I just play one match at a time.”
Wozniacki conceded an early break to go 1-2 down but then rattled off 11 of the next 12 games to complete a humiliating rout of the 19th seed.
CAROLINE Wozniacki has broken through for her first quarterfinal appearance at the Australian Open in six years, buoying hopes she can finally win a Grand Slam.
The No.2 seed has never lifted a Grand Slam trophy, but with a host of big guns out, including absent champion Serena Williams, Wozniacki has emerged as a genuine threat.
A confident Wozniacki, 27, blew past 19-seed Magdalena Rybarikova yesterday 6-3 6-0 in only 63 minutes.
The demolition included the first between-the-legs shot of Wozniacki’s career.
The Dane will take on Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro (33) for a chance to make it to the semi-final of a Grand Slam for the seventh time.
She also has a chance to regain the No.1 world ranking six years after she previously held it.
Wozniacki was close to bowing out in the second round when she trailed 21year-old Croatian Jana Fett 5-2 in the third set and stared down a pair of match points.
But she pulled off a miraculous comeback, winning five straight games and has since fired on all cylinders, putting an impressive 25 winners past Rybarikova yesterday.
Wozniacki also won 77 per cent of first-serve points.
The ruthless right-hander said after her win yesterday she was feeling no pressure in the tournament after her narrow escape in the second round.
“I have played really well since being 5-1 down and since then I’ve just kept that going,” Wozniacki said. “I feel good. “When you are almost out of the tournament you have nothing to lose after that.
“You just go out there and enjoy yourself.
“All I can say is I’m in a good place, I think I’m hitting the ball well and everything has been going well the past year and a half.”
Last year Wozniacki claimed 60 match wins – the most of any female player – to round out one of the most consistent seasons of her career.
But she was not allowing herself to think about lifting an elusive Grand Slam trophy as she entered the second week of the Australian Open.
“There is still a long way to go so I just think about the task ahead of me,” she said.
Wozniacki has won five of her seven meetings against Suarez Navarro, although the Spaniard triumphed in their last tussle on clay in Madrid.
“Obviously hard court is a little different but we have had a lot of tough encounters on hard court as well, some threeset gruelling matches,” she said. “I’m expecting another tough fight.”
Wozniacki said she was reaping the rewards of a demanding off-season training program.
“I have been doing everything you have to in the offseason, work hard and give it everything I could to prepare as well as I could every day,” she said. “When you put in the work you just hope that that’s enough and if it’s not you go back to work and try and get better.
“For me, it’s been no pressure and just go out there and play.”