Caroline Wozniacki reached a grand-slam final for the first time in five years last night, but not in the way she would have wanted.
The world No 11 from Denmark was leading 7-6, 4-3 against Peng Shuai when the Chinese, herself featuring in a grand-slam semi-final for the first time, was stricken by what appeared to be a combination of cramps and heatstroke.
Barely able to move, Peng was taken off court for a medical assessment that lasted about seven minutes. When she returned, she played only five more points before dramatically crumpling in a heap and being forced to retire. The 28-year-old was in such discomfort that she had to be taken off the court in a wheelchair.
“It was difficult to watch,” Wozniacki said of her opponent’s plight. “You want to fight until the end properly. I feel very sorry for her. She played very well, but it was really hot out there.”
Wozniacki, the beaten finalist here in 2009, will face her conqueror on that occasion, Serena Williams, in tomorrow’s final. The American defeated Ekaterina Makarova, of Russia, 6-1, 6-3 in little more than an hour. Williams will be chasing her 18th grand-slam title, while Wozniacki will be trying to break her duck.
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The Dane was pleased with her performance after suffering from a virus for which, at 2-0 down in the second set, she had to take tablets. “I’m feeling pretty good now,” she said. “I’ve been in bed basically the last two days but fortunately we had two days off, that was a bit lucky for me. I’ve got goosebumps, it’s been five years since I was in a final here and it’s incredible to be back.”
Wozniacki’s ranking has tumbled over the past four years from No 1 in the world, so it was perhaps understandable that the 24-year-old looked nervous at the outset. In fact, both players took a while to get over bouts of stage fright. In addition to the humidity, there was a breeze at the Arthur Ashe Stadium that made serving testing.
Nevertheless, it was not until the seventh game that there was a break point, Peng gleefully watching a poor forehand from the Dane fly wide.
Peng had been serving superbly during the tournament, having not been broken since the second round, but Wozniacki broke back immediately. However, the Dane’s own service was inconsistent; a powerful 108mph ace was promptly followed by two double faults and although she held in that particular game, she was unable to forge ahead and the first set went to a tie-break. In contrast to what had preceded it, the tie-break was over swiftly, won 7-1 by Wozniacki.
After her trainer had to intervene to help Wozniacki combat the discomfort caused by her recent illness, she looked to be in trouble, already a break down in the second set. Yet she is a fighter and instantly broke back again.
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Then the problems began for Peng who started to move extremely gingerly. Wozniacki faced an anxious wait, first while treatment was administered off court, and again after Peng’s final collapse, but with the episode leading to a painful end for the 28-year-old, Wozniacki was soon able to celebrate reaching the final.