Petkovic dances past Wozniacki
Originally published on: 29/03/11 11:01
Andrea Petkovic ended Caroline Wozniacki’s hopes of a fourth consecutive final appearance after downing the world No.1 7-5 3-6 6-3 in Miami.
The German, who achieved a career-best quarter-final finish at the Australian Open in Melbourne this January, saved three set points in the opening set and pulled out a clever, crafty display come the third – after losing the second – to defeat Wozniacki in their first career meeting.
“Most of the players think they can overpower Caroline, but I think that’s the wrong approach because that’s where she’s most comfortable, when she can run and bring most balls back,” said the world No.23.
“Once you lose your concentration, she goes for it. What I try to do is mix it up and make her play, and when I had the short ball, go for it. If you try to hit every single shot full power, full power, she just gets more comfortable and eventually you’re going to miss.”
Wozniacki, who had won the Indian Wells and Dubai titles and reached the final in Doha in her last three tournaments, proved frustrated after squandering three set points in the opener, kicking the ball away angrily.
“Nothing was going on with my forehand, nothing was going on with my backhand, I lost the match,” lamented the Dane. “I had so many chances in the first set. I had set points, and I didn’t take them. Then the energy level dropped a little bit. That’s what happens in sport.”
After reaching the quarter-finals, Petkovic pulled out the infamous ‘Petko-dance’, which she had hoped to replace with a new celebration – but brought it back by popular demand.
“I wanted to get rid of it after the US Open,” Petkovic admitted. “But the fans said: ‘hey, we are just coming to see that dance,’ so I brought it back in. But this is definitely the last tournament where it’s going to happen and then I’m moving on to something else.”
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