Wozniacki outlasts Halep for 1st major
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA » For all her success in tennis, from holding the No. 1 ranking for more than a year to winning 27 titles, one question had plagued Caroline Wozniacki’s career.
Did she have what it takes to win a major? It took 43 Grand Slam tournaments and two failed attempts in finals before Wozniacki ended her drought with a 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-4 win over topseeded Simona Halep in the Australian Open final on Saturday night.
Only three woman have taken longer to achieve their major breakthrough, a list topped by 2015 U.S. Open winner Flavia Pennetta (49).
“One of the most positive things about all of this — I’m never going to get that question again,” the 27-yearold Wozniacki said as she clung to the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup. “I’m just waiting for the question ‘When are you going to win the second one?”’
So more than eight years after appearing in her first Grand Slam final at the 2009 U.S. Open — a straight sets loss to Kim Clijsters — Wozniacki has finally erased the “but never won a major” footnote on her resume.
“Obviously adding a Grand Slam to my CV is what caps it off ... shows my whole career as a whole,” Wozniacki said.
She’ll also regain the top ranking next week for the first time in six years — beating Serena Williams’ record of 5 years, 29 days between stints at No. 1 on the women’s tour — in another benefit of beating the top-seeded Halep.
Wozniacki lost two U.S. Open finals — in 2009 and 2014 — and Halep lost two French Open finals before their meeting at Melbourne Park.
It set up a first major final in the Open era between players ranked No. 1 and 2 who had never won a Grand Slam title.
Also, it was the first time that both Australian Open finalists had saved match points en route to the final.
In Halep’s case, she was the first player who had saved match points in multiple matches. She saved triple match point in the third set to beat Laura Davis 15-13 in the third set of her third-round match. She also saved match points in her semifinal against Angelique Kerber.
Wozniacki saved match points in her second-round win over Jana Fett and said from then on she was “playing with the house money.”
Caroline Wozniacki celebrates after defeating Romania’s Simona Halep in the women’s singles on Saturday.
So both players rolled the dice in the 2-hour, 49-minute final, which featured long, absorbing rallies, some gritty defense, a combined 65 clean winners and 10 service breaks.
“I know that today is a tough day,” said Wozniacki, acknowledging Halep’s quest for a major. “I’m sorry I had to win today but I’m sure we’ll have many matches in the future. Incredible match, incredible fight. And again, I’m sorry.”
Halep was playing with an injured left ankle, needed treatment for dizziness in the second set and had rallied from a break down in the third set to lead 4-3 when Wozniacki took a medical time out to have her left knee taped. In the end, she just ran out of steam.
“It’s not easy to talk now,” Halep said. “It’s been a great tournament for me. Sad that I couldn’t make it the third time, maybe the fourth time will be with luck.”
“I can still smile. I cried, but now I’m smiling,”
Wozniacki is the third first-time major winner in the four Grand Slam tournaments since Serena Williams won the 2017 Australian Open.
Williams chose not to defend the title after taking time out following the birth of her first child in September.
She didn’t watch the match, saying she gets too nervous, but Williams tweeted to congratulate her good friend Wozniacki.
“New number one and aussie open champ. So awesome. So happy. Are those tears? Yup they are. From a year ago to today I’m so proud my friend so proud.”
Roger Federer is aiming for his 20th Grand Slam singles title when he meets No. 6-seeded Marin Cilic in the Australian Open final. Federer beat Cilic in the Wimbledon final last year and has an 8-1 career record against the 29-year-old Croatian player. It’s the one loss that bothers him, though. He remembers his sole loss to Cilic all too well, a straightsets defeat at the 2014 U.S. Open. “He crushed me in that semifinal,” Federer said. “He beat me badly.” Cilic went on to win the U.S. title — his only Grand Slam trophy. “I definitely think him winning the U.S. Open ... gave (him) great belief,” Federer said. “You can see it in the way he behaves on the court. He’s there to win.” Federer arrived at Melbourne Park last year following a six-month break from the tour, and left with his first Grand Slam title since 2012 after beating Rafael Nadal in five sets in the final. He hasn’t dropped a set in the first six matches of his defense and is quietly confident. Cilic has confidence, too, particularly after beating top-seeded Nadal in the quarterfinals. “I’m playing much, much more aggressive,” Cilic said. “I’m feeling that I am, for most of the shots, hitting them really, really good . ... I think everything is in good, solid spot.” SATURDAY’S RESULTS Women’s final: No. 2 Caroline Wozniacki beat No. 1 Simona Halep 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-4. Men’s doubles final: No. 7 Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic beat No. 11 Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah 6-4, 6-4. Junior girls final: No. 2 Liang En-shuo Liang beat Clara Burel 6-3, 6-4. Junior boys final: No. 7 Sebastian Korda (7) beat Tseng Chun-hsin 7-6 (6), 6-4. STAT OF THE DAY 1: A first Grand Slam title for Caroline Wozniacki, who lost U.S. Open finals in 2009 and 2014. QUOTE OF THE DAY “I’m never going to get the question again about being a world No. 1 without a Slam.” Wozniacki after winning her first Grand Slam title in her 43rd major, ensuring she’ll also return to the top ranking next week.