Murray and Wozniacki win US Open Series

 

Originally published on: 27/08/10 10:41

Andy Murray and Caroline Wozniacki are in line for a potential $1 million bonus payout at this year’s US Open after topping the US Open Series standings.

World No.4 Murray and Wozniacki, the women’s top seed in New York, have emerged as the standout performers from this year’s American hard court summer season.

And yesterday, just hours after the US Open draws were announced, both players were confirmed as champions of the six-week event – each without hitting a ball.

Murray, who defended his Rogers Cup title after reaching the final of the Farmers Classic and later made the quarter-finals in Cincinnati, sealed top spot when Marcos Baghdatis fell to Sergiy Stakhovsky in the quarter-finals of the Pilot Pen Tennis event in New Haven, the last US Open Series event ahead of next week’s US Open.

The Scot finished the Series level on points with Roger Federer, but pips the Swiss after beating him in the Toronto final.

Wozniacki, who on Monday won her first WTA Premier 5 title in Montreal – the biggest win of her career to date – clinched the women’s Series when Flavia Pennetta handed her a walkover to the semi-finals in New Haven after suffering a foot injury.

Both Wozniacki and Murray will receive the maximum bonus prize money at this year’s US Open. Should either go on to win the title, a further $1 million will be added to their $1.7 winner’s cheque.

Wozniacki, the two-time defending champion in New Haven, will face Elena Dementieva in Friday’s semi-finals after the Russian beat Marion Bartoli 6-3 3-6 6-2. There will certainly be a Russian in the final, however, as Nadia Petrova faces Maria Kirilenko in the other semi-final.

Petrova romped past Roland Garros finalist Sam Stosur 6-2 6-1, while Kirilenko defeated compatriot Dinara Safina 6-3 6-3.

Baghdatis, top seed in the men’s event and in fine form after a semi-final appearance in Cincinnati last week, fell in a tense final set tie-break to Stakhovsky 5-7 6-1 7-6(4). The Ukrainian will meet Holland Thiemo de Bakker in the last four after the No.12 seed downed Evgeny Korolev 6-4 6-3.

Denis Istomin clinched a thriller to book his semi-final spot, edging out Teimuraz Gabashvili 6-1 3-6 7-6(8). He will face Viktor Troicki, a 6-2 6-3 winner over Radek Stepanek.

Now get the WORLD’S BEST TENNIS MAGAZINE here