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September 1, 2023,
Though they have met 14 times before, somehow this one feels different.
Historic even.
The Danish legend Caroline Wozniacki will face the long time Czech star in Petra Kvitova.
No two personalities could be more different.
Caroline, very gregarious and outgoing.
Petra very reserved and barely shows any expressions, feelings or passion. The tall elegant young woman barely says a word. Since she is currently ranked number 12 in the world, she quietly let’s her racquet do the talking.
In Caroline Wozniacki’s comeback attempt, unlike the Czech star’s personality, Petra’s racquet is going to have to speak very loudly.
When someone experienced an extensive 3-1/2 year layoff and had two children, you wonder what type of shape she will be in.
Caroline was ranked world No. 1 in singles for a total of 71 weeks, including at the end of 2010 and 2011. She achieved the top ranking for the first time on October 11, 2010, becoming the 20th player in the Open Era and the first from a Scandinavian country to hold the top position.
In 2018, she became the first Dane to win a major singles title at the Australian Open.
Known for her footwork and defensive abilities, Ms. Wozniacki won 30 WTA Tour singles titles (including six in both 2010 and 2011, the most in a year by a WTA player from 2008–2011) and two doubles titles.
At 33 years old, it is her 14th US Open experience where she is 39-13.
How does she look?
Sensational.
Adorned in a dark sea blue outfit, that looks similar to a swimmer’s body suit, Caroline looks athletically incredible.
By contrast, Petra Kvitova is known for her powerful left-handed groundstrokes and variety, Kvitová has won 31 career singles titles, including two major titles at Wimbledon in 2011 and in 2014.
She also won a bronze medal in singles while representing the Czech Republic at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Her career-high ranking of world No. 2 was achieved on October 31, 2011.
Petra first gained notice by defeating then-world No. 1 Dinara Safina in the third round of the 2009 US Open.
So much for history. New history will be made tonight.
Time to begin the match. It is close to a blow by blow accounting.
CAROLINE WOZNIACKI VS PETRA KVITOVA
The first game against Kvitova is turning into a long one, going back and forth. Then Caroline dumps her second serve into the net.
1-0 for Petra Kvitova.
In the second game, Caroline manages to accumulate some break points at 40-15 but Petra hits some clean shots to even things up and then makes some unforced errors to lose it. The announcers indicate, that is one benefit of playing against Petra.
She will gift you some unforced errors.
1-1.
The next game goes back and forth until Petra gets a little tricky and tries a drop shot, perhaps testing Caroline’s fitness since this is Caroline’s only 5th match in her comeback but the Danish star comes racing in an puts it away to win the game.
2-1 for Caroline.
Petra to serve. The wind is starting to pick up. The game goes back and forth and yet down a break point, Petra paints the line with a winner. This is the third 10 point game of the match. Caroline throws in a couple of moon balls and on cue, Petra commits an unforced error. She soon makes up for it with an incredible drop shot.
When the two stars were 21 years old, they were both number one and two in the world. They do have a long history together. Head to head, Petra leads 8-6.
Now tied 2-2.
Caroline is serving. Once again back and forth until Petra paints the line once more. She is now up 3-2 and ready to serve. And serve she does winning 4 points in a row. She mildly complains about the noise but hey, this is New York, not Wimbledon.
Down 2-4, time for Caroline to serve. She serves well. In quick fashion. No long game here.
4-3 for Petra.
Petra is serving well but over hitting balls, just as the announcers said she would. She always gives you a chance to get back into the match. Caroline takes advantage of that and wins the game.
4-4.
Time to scrutinize as things get tight.
Caroline will serve. This time around Petra is hitting winners, painting the lines and goes up 30-0. Can Caroline weather the storm? Caroline hits her second ace, just in time. Caroline is up and Petra goes for one more line shot and misses. High risk is high risk. You will make mistakes.
5-4 for Caroline.
Petra is serving to stay in the first set. She holds with an ace out wide.
5-5.
This game Petra has to win the points and thus far, she is doing so. It is not enough. Caroline hits two back to back aces and wins the game. At the changeover, the Danish star looks very relaxed.
6-5 for Caroline.
Petra is serving and both are hitting the ball well. Right now 30-30. Petra is consistent. She dumps a ball into the net giving Caroline her first set point. Petra wrong foots her and evens things up. Caroline ups her game and hits some hard shots. Petra dumps the last one into the net.
Caroline wins the first set 7-5.
The legend starts the set hitting a winner into the corner. She backs it up with some great serving.
Second set, 1-0 for Caroline.
Though Caroline plays well, Petra just plays better.
1-1 in the second.
Caroline is starting to get a lot of free points off of her serve. Things gets so much easier after that. She finishes a great game with a powerful overhead winner.
Caroline leads 2-1 in the second set.
Just as Petra appears to be playing solidly, she continues to throw in unforced errors. Like a double fault which gives Caroline a break point. Petra remains unemotional and expressionless. She steadies her game as well, without fist pumps or “come on”. She wins handily.
2-2 in the second set.
Caroline serves well, Petra dumps the last serve into the net.
3-2 for Caroline. She appears to be closing in on her first big win on the world’s largest stage.
Petra plays the next game steady but Caroline just plays it better, running down shots and forcing Petra to continue to make those unforced errors. Up until this point, Caroline has only made two unforced errors. That in part is why she was once the world’s number one. Petra dumps another one into the net.
4-2 for Caroline.
Just when you think Caroline is about to put her away, Petra plays flawless tennis including hitting a blistering down the line she. She breaks Caroline and gets back into the second set. Possibly saving the match.
Caroline leads 4-3 with Petra to serve.
Petra raises the level of her game. Hitting great serves and even better ground strokes. This time she makes it look easy.
4-4 in the second set.
Caroline plays like she cares. Petra, expressionless like she could take it or leave it. She leaves it, hitting an unforced error.
Caroline leads 5-4. One game away from winning the match.
Petra is amazing in her expressionless approach to the game. She has always been that way. We have never seen a player compete like she does and remain the same in emotion as when she wins a great point or dumps a high risk shot into the net or out of bounds. This places Caroline in a position to win this with 2 match points and yet Petra, deadpan and all, holds her off.
5-5 in the second.
Caroline could be disappointed about letting those two match points slips away, but if she was, she sure doesn’t show it. She plays a brilliant energetic game and wins it easily.
6-5 for Caroline.
At times Petra can hit some brilliant shots. She goes up 30-0. The veteran is flawless. She wins this game going away.
6-6 and headed for a tie break. Only the second against one another.
Caroline hits a great blistering serve out wide.
1-0 for Caroline.
Petra counters with a great serve down the middle which Caroline floats out.
1-1.
Then she hits a double fault. Oh well. She is consistently inconsistent.
2-1 for Caroline.
Petra hits more high risk shots, moving Caroline from side to side, until she hits one wide.
3-1 for Caroline.
Great first serve by Caroline, Petra hits it out.
4-1 for Caroline.
Petra now hits another well placed serve down the middle.
4-2 for Caroline.
They trade shots, back and forth until, well, you know, Petra hits it out.
5-2 for Caroline and she is serving.
Great first serve out wide but Caroline comes to net and hits the wrong shot. This was her point to win and she blew it.
5-3 for Caroline.
Caroline seems to be thinking about what was lost and hits the ball too deep.
5-4 for Caroline. Petra is closing the gap. Then heaven forbid, she double faults.
6-4 for Caroline. A third match point for Caroline.
Petra hits a good serve out wide and Caroline dumps it into the net.
6-5 for Caroline. She still has a match point. She serves well and Petra hits it out.
Caroline wins in her comeback tour 7-5, 7-6 (7-5).
The spectacular Dane now has 122 major match wins in her legendary career, the fourth-most among active women behind Petra Kvitova, Venus Williams and Victoria Azarenka.
We’re not sure how much we took Caroline’s defensive style of play for granted. For years.
It is so good to have her back. She makes things so much more beautiful and interesting than most.
We greatly appreciate her now.
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OPENING PHOTO Shutterstock-Jimmie48-Photography-Editorial-use Femcompetitor.com, grapplingstars.com, fciwomenswrestling.com, fcielitecompetitor.com, fciwomenswrestling2.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caroline_Wozniacki
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petra_Kvitov%C3%A1
https://www.fciwomenswrestling2.com
https://www.fcielitecompetitor.com/
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