Wozniacki Storms Into Round Two of U.S. Open

August 28, 2018 | By Brian Coleman
wozniacki crop

Two-time finalist Caroline Wozniacki powered her way into the second round of the U.S. Open with a convincing 6-3, 6-2 victory over former champion Samantha Stosur inside Arthur Ashe Stadium Tuesday afternoon.

“I’m feeling pretty good,” Wozniacki said of how she feels physically. “I didn’t have the ideal lead up to the tournament but, you know, body-wise, I’m feeling great now. It was a good test today, obviously, with the heat and then playing Sam. I’m pleased with how I’m feeling. I’m just hoping that step by step, I can play better and better as the tournament progresses.”

Wozniacki, who reached the finals in Flushing Meadows in 2009 and in 2014, will look to continue that progress in a second round contest against Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko, who won 6-3, 6-2 over Alison Van Uytvanck.

In a thrilling three-set showdown inside Louis Armstrong Stadium, 10th seed Jelena Ostapenko navigated a tricky opening round foe in Andrea Petkovic, outlasting the German 6-4, 4-6, 7-5. In what has become a routine Ostapenko stat line, the Latvian ripped 38 winners and committed 60 unforced errors, but overcame those errors in the end to advance.

“I mean, of course conditions were difficult today. It was very humid and also very hot, but it was the same for both of us. I mean we [both] had to deal with it,” said Ostapenko. “The way I finished the match, I’m glad. But I had more opportunities, especially I won first set and 3-0 up. Then my game level dropped a little bit. But my opponent, she was playing very well today. I had really to win every point … but I’m happy that I was fighting till the end and I managed to win the match.”

In the second round, Ostapenko will square off against American Taylor Townsend, who outlasted compatriot Amanda Anisimova, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. It was a tough defeat for Anisimova who was making her U.S. Open main draw debut, but the soon to be 17-year-old has a lot to build off of.

“It was a close and tough match, and we were both battling and giving everything we had out there today,” Anisimova said. “It was a great experience. I was working and practicing a lot for it, and did everything I could to put myself in the best position. I want to congratulate her, she played very well.”

Petra Kvitova rallied back from a break down in the second set to oust Belgium’s Yanina Wickmayer 6-1, 6-4. The fifth-seed blasted 28 winners to secure her spot in the U.S. Open second round for a seventh straight year.

“In the last couple of years, I think I kind of formed a love for New York City, so hopefully [it] will be the same this year,” said Kvitova. “The first rounds are always like the worst for me. Today was a great one, so hopefully I’m going to continue this good performance.”

Angelique Kerber, the 2016 champion, held off Russian Margarita Gasparyan 7-6(5), 6-3. She draws Swede Johanna Larsson next.

American Francesca di Lorenzo defeated fellow American and New Jersey native Christina McHale 6-1, 7-6(1). di Lorenzo plays 15th seed Kiki Bertens next. Bertens was a 6-0, 7-5 victor over Kristyna Pliskova.

Aleksandra Krunic saved her best for last, as she outlasted Timea Bacsinszky 6-2, 3-6, 6-0. She will face off against Kirsten Flipkens next, who upset last year’s semifinalist Coco Vandeweghe 6-3, 7-6(3).


Francesca di Lorenzo defeated fellow American and New Jersey native Christina McHale 6-1, 7-6(1) in opening round action at the 2018 U.S. Open

 


In Tuesday action at Flushing Meadows, it was Kirsten Flipkens upsetting last year’s semifinalist, Coco Vandeweghe, 6-3, 7-6(3)

 


Aleksandra Krunic outlasted Timea Bacsinszky 6-2, 3-6, 6-0 to advance into round two of the 2018 U.S. Open

 


American Taylor Townsend outlasted her compatriot, Amanda Anisimova, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, in Tuesday afternoon action at the U.S. Open


 


Brian Coleman
Senior Editor, Long Island Tennis Magazine
Brian Coleman is the Senior Editor for Long Island Tennis Magazine. He may be reached at brianc@usptennis.com.
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