Andrea Petkovic stuns Caroline Wozniacki in the fourth round of Sony Ericsson Open
World number 23, German Andrea Petkovic outsmarted the world number one Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark in the fourth round of Sony Ericsson Open at Miami, Florida on Monday night. Petkovic achieved her surprise victory in two hours
and twenty four minutes of play, settling the final score to 7-5, 3-6, 6-3. She now advances to the quarter-finals of the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) tournament.
It was an outstanding display of character and sheer determination form Petkovic to defeat Wozniacki, whom she was facing for the first time. The top seed was probably unaware of the versatile game play of the German and appeared
perplexed in the crucial moments of the game. She will be taking a lay off from the professional tennis and get some days’ rest.
“Of course I would have loved to have won today, but it didn’t happen. I’m not going to dig a hole for myself, or dig a grave. I will just take a few days of rest, and I’m prepared for the clay season,” Wozniacki told the press
reporters after the game.
The Dane had three set points to wrap up the opener but she squandered them all to drop the first set. She clinched the second set to remain alive in the game and it looked as if Wozniacki had got her flare back. To everyone’s
surprise, Petkovic wiped off the world number one in the final set of the match to seal victory for herself.
Wozniacki had a quick start to the contest, serving brilliantly with 77 per cent accuracy and raced to 5-4 lead with two serve breaks. Before she could convert any of the three set points, Petkovic made a tremendous comeback to
reel off three straight games to win the first set at 7-5 and get the upper hand over Wozniacki.
Petkovic kept serving well in the next set, delivering an impressive 81 per cent first serve on target but the Dane bettered her in terms of winning points. Wozniacki collected 75 per cent of her first serve points and stung two
serve breaks to get commanding position in the game. She closed out the second set at 6-3 to level the contest with one set a piece.
A huge momentum swing took place in the decisive set as the German took down the error-ridden Wozniacki. Petkovic served amazingly with 80 per cent accuracy and clinched 70 per cent points on it to edge past her opponent. A thudding
ace from the German closed the competition at 6-3 and marked an end to Wozniacki’s voyage at Sony Ericsson Open.
Petkovic will take on the world number seven Jelena Jankovic in the first quarter-final at Miami. Jankovic won her fourth round contest in straight sets 6-1, 6-3, against Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain to reach the quarter-finals.
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