- Caroline Wozniacki biography
- Birthdate
- 11-Jul-90
- Birth place
- Odense, Denmark
- Residence
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Height
- 177cm
- Weight
- 58kg
The clock has finally struck midnight on the modern day Cinderella known as Melanie Oudin as she has been defeated in straight sets by #9 seed Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark 6-2, 6-2.
Perhaps deep down we all suspected that Oudin's fairy tale run could not possibly continue all the way into the final (perhaps even a championship?!), yet her play over the past 10 days had us all "believing" that maybe, just maybe, the impossible was indeed possible with a run to the quarterfinal that defied all expectations.
While the otherwise bubbly 17 year old from Marietta, GA with the feisty backcourt game had American tennis fans buzzing for one brief, shining moment with thoughts of a dream final where she would perhaps face off against either Kim Clijsters - who has been on a tear since returning to the tour in the past month, or Serena Williams who is seeking her second consecutive US Open crown, it was not to be for Oudin or her now legions of fans as the 19 year old Wozniacki proved to be too steady in the end.
While the otherwise bubbly 17 year old from Marietta, GA with the feisty backcourt game had American tennis fans buzzing for one brief, shining moment with thoughts of a dream final where she would perhaps face off against either Kim Clijsters - who has been on a tear since returning to the tour in the past month, or Serena Williams who is seeking her second consecutive US Open crown, it was not to be for Oudin or her now legions of fans as the 19 year old Wozniacki proved to be too steady in the end.
- Melanie Oudin photos of previous upsets
Showing poise well beyond her years playing in front of a crowd of 20,000+ fans all cheering for her American opponent, the #9 seed came into tonight's matchup leading the tour in victories (60) and in matches played (77) for the season, and being able to draw from so much match experience most certainly helped her to push through to the semifinals. She took few risks electing instead to play percentage tennis, and the strategy proved successful as it was Oudin (playing in her first prime time match at the US Open), who became rattled and saw the forehand which had carried her through the first four rounds desert her tonight.
Wozniacki will next face off against fellow 19 year old Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium, who advanced to the semifinal with a straight sets win earlier this afternoon 7-5, 6-4 over Kateryna Bondarenko of the Ukraine.
Afterwards Oudin thanked the crowd for having gotten her through so many matches, and while the result tonight was not what she hoped for there is no doubt that a star has been born which will shine brightly for years to come. Oudin is a member of the US Federation Cup squad which will be squaring off against Italy in November for the 2009 championship, and if she is able to sustain the level of play we've seen from her over the past 10 days, there is every reason to "believe" that she will lead the US team to the prestigious title.
More bad news for Poland; following the withdrawal of local favourite Agnieszka Radwanska, Caroline Wozniacki is out with a back injury.
09 Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark returns the ball against Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand during their women's singles quarter-final match of the Japan Open Tennis Championships in Tokyo Friday, Oct. 3, 2008.(AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)
Top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark reacts after getting a point against Gisela Dulko of Argentina during the first round match of the Japan Open tennis tournament in Tokyo on September 30, 2008. Wozniacki won 4-6, 6-0, 6-3. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images)/AFP/Getty Images