Wozniacki Injured; Kvitova Asthma; WTA Drama Heightens at Sydney
Just when you thought the injury-o-rama in women’s tennis couldn’t get any worse, the race for the No. 1 ranking imploded on Wednesday at the Sydney event where world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki was injured during a loss that could have consequences for her Australian Open.
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Fighting back tears in the third set, Wozniacki had her wrist taped during an injury time-out against Agnieszka Radwanska, losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 in the quarterfinals.
Now world No. 2 Petra Kvitova, who has been battling asthma during the event, can take the No. 1 ranking for the first time by winning Sydney. In the quarters Kvitova put a 6-0, 6-4 beat-down on Daniel Hantuchova, and in the semis will face reigning French Open champ Li Na.
Wozniacki joins Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Kim Clijsters, and a host of other players who enter Melbourne injured or may be forced to pull out of the event.
Wozniacki thinks the wrist injury will not keep her out of Melbourne.
“I could feel it today, especially in the third set,” Wozniacki said. “I’m going to go get it checked out tomorrow and hopefully it’s ok. Let’s just hope for the best. I should be completely fine for Australian Open. I started feeling it more and more during the match.”
Kvitova reportedly had asthma-related breathing problems in her three-set win over Alexandra Dulgheru in the second round during the heat of the day, but the Czech said she was not as bothered during her night match against Hantuchova.
“I have to say it was not really bad tonight,” Kvitova said. “I have more problem in the USA than here. This is not really humid here.”
The other women’s semifinal will be (7) Agnieszka Radwanska vs. (3) Victoria Azarenka.
Highlights of men’s play Wednesday in Sydney included seeds (1) Juan Martin del Potro and (3) Richard Gasquet advancing. Upsets were American qualifier Bobby Reynolds defeating (2) John Isner, France’s Julien Benneteau downing (4) Feliciano Lopez, newly-minted Russian Alex Bogomolov, Jr. toppling (5) Viktor Troicki, and Finnish qualifier Jarkko Nieminen outlasting (8) Radek “The Worm” Stepanek 6-1 in the third.
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