NEW HAVEN:
Three-time defending champion and world number one Caroline Wozniacki won her 16th match in a row over four years at the WTA New Haven Open to reach the final of the US Open tune-up.
The Danish star defeated Italian third seed Francesca Schiavone 7-6 (7/2), 6-3, to sustain her winning streak, while Czech qualifier Petra Cetkovska upset French Open champion Li Na of China 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (11/9) in the other semi-final to reach her first WTA championship match.
Cetkovska, ranked 40th, saved a match point in the tie-breaker before winning on her fifth match point.
“This is my best win,” said Cetsovska. “I’m so happy to win this match. There were so many ups and downs.”
Isner shocks Roddick to reach final
Elsewhere, hometown hero John Isner is set to face French qualifier Julien Benneteau in the final of the ATP Winston-Salem Open after each captured dramatic semi-final triumphs.
Isner upset top-seed and fellow American Andy Roddick 7-6 (9/7), 6-4 while world number 113 Benneteau outlasted Dutch 10th-seed Robin Haase 3-6, 7-6 (9/7), 7-6 (8/6).
While the 29-year-old Frenchman hopes to end a run of four career losses in finals, Isner bids for a third career title after winning on grass the week after Wimbledon at Newport and playing the final in Atlanta later in July.
“I’m so happy to be in a final again,” said Benneteau. “I hope to finally be able to win one. It’s been a tough week with lots of matches, but I’ve fought through it well.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 28th, 2011.
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