Caroline Wozniacki has beaten Maria Sharapova in the fourth round of the US Open before, when she was the top seed in 2010. But as Wozniacki neared the finish line of her 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 victory today, Mary Carillo took note of the young Dane’s fight back to the top ranks this summer and argued, “I honestly believe this could be the biggest win of her life.” Going into the quarters, Caro is the only top 10 seed left in her half of the draw, though next opponent Sara Errani is a fighter, Shuai Peng is dangerously sharp, and 17-year-old Belinda Bencic (who Caro trounced just over a month ago) is arriving on the big stage in style, with a certain Martina Hingis in the wings watching her progress. Here are some highlights from Wozniacki’s press conference after the Sharapova win:
On her clutch victory over Maria Sharapova:
“It means a lot … The season has been a little bit up and down, and it’s so nice to … start feeling like I’m playing the way I want to … I’m serving well, running well, staying aggressive when I have to, and I make the right decisions at the right moment. And I enjoy playing!”
On preparing for the NYC Marathon:
“Definitely, it’s helping, because I felt fresh out there and I felt like I could keep going … I’m going to run quite a bit in Central Park after the tournament … The marathon breathing down my neck!
On her training in boxing, her exposure to golf [when she was with Rory McIlroy], and her more recent marathon training:
“The marathon is hard work. I run a lot already in my training, so to put those extra miles in … [it] clears my head. I feel more free when I go on court … I love the boxing. It’s so tough … I always get killed during that training, but … It makes me stronger and I know I can push myself really far … Golf is obviously a mental sport. Sometimes it’s the small putts that can make a huge difference …[It’s the] same with tennis. You make a ball here [or] there. Important points, those are the ones that count!”
On her pair of losses to friend Serena this summer:
“I told Serena I’m pretty tired of her. Twice she beat me in three sets. I said, ‘Can you just get out of my way?'”
On her favorite fashion designers, and New York Fashion Week:
“I have quite a few … I’m definitely going to go to the Michael Kors [show]. Serena is having her first fashion show, so I’m going to go and support her and see. She’s obviously doing a great job with her designs … Stella McCartney is one of my favorite designers, but she isn’t going to be here.”
Wozniacki’s presser then finished with an odd exchange with an Italian reporter:
Against Sara Errani, being a counterpuncher is not enough. You have to do different things. What do you think could be the real key? I heard what you said before, but [it] didn’t convince me (laughter).
“I don’t need to convince anybody in a press conference, honestly. The only one I have to convince is out there on the court. Sara is a great player. She’s going to get a lot of balls back, and hopefully I will be convincing on the court.”
But before … [Mirjana Lucic-Baroni said] Errani was serving so slow that she couldn’t find the ball…
“Well, thank you. Maybe you can be my coach.”
