导出博客文章NEW YORK -- Caroline Wozniacki isnt just back playing tennis. Something
important about her seems changed. And a lot of it was evident during her 6-0,
6-2 demolition of Latvias Anastasija Sevastova on Tuesday in a quarterfinal
match that ended Sevastovas giant-killing run through the US Open.Wozniacki
began by blitzing to wins in the first 10 games of a match that passed the
50-minute mark before Sevastova, who was fighting an ankle injury that required
two visits from the trainer, won a solitary game.Even if I had no injury, it
wouldve been tough to beat her. Caroline played great, Sevastova said.Referring
to Wozniackis mere five unforced errors compared to the 30 she made, the
48th-ranked Sevastova added, I think she made no mistakes.Wozniacki moves into
Thursdays semifinal round opposite Angelique Kerber, who could overtake Serena
Williams for No. 1 in the world if she wins this tournament. Kerber will find
that Wozniacki, whose ranking has plunged to No. 74 in part because of an ankle
injury that forced her to miss three months this year (including the French
Open), will not be an easy out. She looks nothing like the player who bombed out
early at the Australian Open and Wimbledon earlier this year.Wozniackis game and
attitude have more of a serrated edge now, and she says age and suffering some
hard knocks have a lot to do with it. She used to be the best counterpuncher on
tour, bar none. But against Sevastova -- and eight-seeded Madison Keys and
Svetlana Kuznetsova in this tournament before that -- Wozniacki was the
aggressor. She now comes forward more, cracking hard shots off both her forehand
and backhand. She kept Sevastova pinned deep behind the baseline, often
finishing her off with smashes, same as shed done against Keys in the previous
round.Seeing it on TV is one thing, but I was feeling how deep shes hitting the
ball and feeling like I cant get on the offense right away, Keys said after
their match. Its totally different watching and playing.A lot of this feels
different than when Wozniacki was the top-ranked player in the world for 67
weeks in 2010 and 2011. She didnt play this assertively or talk with the hint of
swagger that occasionally slips out now. She constantly had her bona fides
questioned then -- and even now, at age 26 -- because she still hasnt won a
Grand Slam title. She made the final here in 2009 but lost to Kim Clijsters and
was beaten by Williams in the title match two years ago.Until now, Wozniacki
hadnt been back to a Slam semifinal since.Wozniacki will now admit her desire to
hang onto the No. 1 ranking and the constant references to the lack of a Slam
title wore on her, even if she tried to never let it show. She never got sharp
or refused to answer the same question over and over, but she had a lot more of
Clijsters in her than Williams, now a close friend but one of the most rapacious
winners on tour.At times, Wozniacki seemed like shed succeeded Clijsters for the
title of nicest player on tour -- which is a great thing to be as a human being
but often has no application to dominating tournaments.So imagine the little
ripple of surprise Wozniacki caused the other day after shed upset Keys --
playing some tennis that was almost as immaculate as her win over Sevastova --
and actually bragged a little, saying, I think it sucks for some of the other
players to have to play me early in tournaments.On Tuesday, Wozniacki admitted
she saw Sevastova slip and fall during their match. But she told herself to have
no sympathy.I think I was just a little extra focused, Wozniacki said. I knew if
she can still walk and still put weight on it and stuff, then shes obviously
going to go more for her shots. ... I kept serving well and made her
run.Sevastova looked nothing like the player who had knocked off French Open
champ Garbine Muguruza earlier in the tournament. And Wozniacki looked nothing
like the ball returner whose own father and coach, Piotr, has said used to be
happy just to make a semifinal.The dream needs to be to win, Piotr told USA
Today on Sunday.Consider it done, his daughter says.I think when youre a little
kid and you dont know what anything really means, everybody knows what it means
to be the best in the world, and everybody knows what it means to be No. 1,
Wozniacki said Tuesday. That is something Im extremely proud of. ... I mean, how
crazy is it to say that youre the best in the world at something? Doesnt matter
if its tennis, football, being a lawyer.So bring on Kerber. Then the
Williams-Simona Halep winner after that.I still believe and feel like Im one of
the top players, and grinding my way back, Wozniacki said. Hopefully, I have two
more matches here.
Tom Rathman Youth
Jersey . Instead of dwelling on the negative, Oates focused on what was
good about the clubs recent play. It worked.
Solomon Thomas
49ers Jersey . How great will be revealed in the next couple of days at
the board of governors meeting in Pebble Beach, Calif.
http://www.49ersrookiestore.com/49ers-Jalen-Hurd-Jersey/
. Ferrer, trying to win his fourth title on Mexican soil, will next play South
Africas Kevin Anderson, who eliminated American Sam Querrey,7-6 (2), 6-4. Also
Wednesday, Gilles Simon
of France beat Donald Young of the United States
6-4, 6-3, Ukraines Alexandr Dolgopolov downed Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-4
and Croatias Ivo Karlovic defeated Dudi Sela of Israel 7-6 (4), 6-2.
Ronnie Lott Youth
Jersey . -- Nate Robinson has played for seven teams, so beating one of
them is no longer a rare occurrence.
Dwight Clark
Youth Jersey . White came in fourth place in the event. He was the
two-time defending gold medallist. The gold medal went to Swiss snowboarder
Iouri Podladtchikov. CLEMSON, S.C. -- Chris Blewitt made a 48-yard field goal
with six seconds left as Pittsburgh stunned No. 3 Clemson 43-42, spoiling a
record-setting Saturday for quarterback Deshaun Watson and complicating the
Tigers path back to the College Football Playoff.It was the biggest win for the
Panthers (6-4, 3-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) since knocking off No. 2 West
Virginia 13-9 in 2007.Watson threw for an ACC record 580 yards and three
touchdowns for Clemson (9-1, 6-1). But his third interception gave Pitt the
chance to crawl back from a 42-34 deficit. After Saleem Brightwells pick and
70-yard return, James Conner finished the drive with a 20-yard TD run.The
Panther defense, which gave up 630 yards, rose up when it counted and stopped
Wayne Gallman short on third and fourth down to take the ball with 58 seconds
left. Two passes to Scott Orndoff put Pitt within range and Blewitt nailed the
kick to send the Panthers into a frenzy.Nathan Peterman had a career-best five
TD passes and 308 yards. Conner rushed for 132 yards and a touchdown. He also
caught one of Petermans scoring throws.Clemson had its offense going. Gallman
ran for three TDs and Mike Williams had 15 catches for 202 yards and a
touchdown.It was Clemsoons first loss at home since 2013 when Florida State, the
eventual national champions, won 51-14.dddddddddddd It was also the Tigers first
regular-season loss since November 2014 at Georgia Tech, a run of 23 straight
games.THE TAKEAWAYPittsburgh: The Panthers showed that coach Pat Narduzzis
program is taking hold. Peterman stayed calm in the face of Clemsons strong pass
rush and Conner was able to avoid the Tigers middle duo of Carlos Watkins and
Dexter Lawrance to keep Pitt moving.Clemson: Many non-Tiger fans will say this
team had it coming after escaping with close wins at home against No. 5
Louisville (42-36 on Oct. 1) and North Carolina State (24-17 in overtime on Oct.
15) after the Wolfpack missed the potential game-winning kick to end regulation.
Clemsons path is still clear -- win out and hope its one-loss season is better
than most others.UP NEXTPittsburgh closes the year with two games at home,
starting with Duke next week.Clemson will try to earn the ACC Atlantic Division
title with a win at Wake Forest next Saturday.---More AP college football:
www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '
Find in Directory
Find in Events
Find in Marketplace