Cetkovska Sends Wozniacki Out of U.S. Open
The Czech Republic’s Petra Cetkovska pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the U.S. Open on Thursday night, downing fourth-seeded Dane and last year’s finalist Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(1) to reach the third-round.
After falling behind 2-4 in the opening set, the former world number 25 won seven straight games to take the first set and build a 3-0 second-set advantage. But Wozniacki didn’t go away, and she put together a streak of her own, and fought back from two breaks down to take the second set and even the contest.
In the third set, both players showed toughness by holding all six of their respective service games, sending this second-round contest into a deciding tie-breaker. Cetkovska dominated the breaker, losing just one point, to pull off the upset for just her third WTA main draw victory of 2015.
“It’s amazing for me; even to participate here, I was so happy to be able to be back and to compete,” said Cetkovska on-court after the match. “I am tired, but very happy. I don't think I realize what happened on the court. There were a lot of emotions.”
Cetkovska moves on to play 26th-seeded Italian Flavia Pennetta, who ousted Romania’s Monica Niculescu 6-4, 6-1 earlier on Thursday. Pennetta has won the only two previous meetings with Cetkovska.
The loss wraps up a tough Grand Slam year for Wozniacki with her best showing being in the Round of 16 at Wimbledon.
“I think it’s a bit of everything. I think its frustration. It’s a lot of things,” she said. “You always think back, I should have done this, I should have done that on those points. It really sucks to lose a match like that. If you lose 1-1, it sucks, but at least you didn’t have a chance. Either you sucked or the other one was just much better. Here, not playing my best level, but still being so close, still having my chances, not closing it out. That hurts. That really hurts.”
Credit all photos to Lee Seidner
