There's always New Haven. Caroline Wozniacki won Brussels, a tune-up for the French Open, then got tuned at Roland Garros by Daniela Hantuchova, 6-1, 6-3. Before Wimbledon, the world No. 1 played her home tournament in Copenhagen—nothing wrong with that, except that it's held on indoor hard courts. But as good as that title might have felt at the time, it's long forgotten after today's 1-6, 7-6 (5), 7-5 loss to Dominika Cibulkova in the fourth round.
Compounding the sting of this led-by-one-set-but-lost-by-one-set defeat are two scores that took shape while Wozniacki was unraveling: Serena Williams lost to Marion Bartoli, 6-3, 7-6 (6), and not long after, her sister Venus lost to Tsvetana Pironkova, 6-2, 6-3. Once again, Wozniacki let an opportunity to claim her first Grand Slam title without having to face the Williamses pass her by; once again, it happened against a player the Dane had a great record against. Wozniacki was 6-2 lifetime against the Slovak coming into this match; before Paris, she was 3-0 against Hantuchova. If Wozniacki plays down when the pressure is at its apex, let's also recognize her opponents when they play up.
Cibulkova was thrilled at the end of this match, and for good reason—she rallied after a horrific first set. In her three straight-sets victories last week, Wozniacki had shown a more aggressive sense in bits and pieces. Cibulkova withstood Wozniacki's early surge and improved as this match progessed. Her small stature is a great benefit on grass, where lower-bouncing balls are the norm. She picked those shots up and flinged them back, which was the only way to win. "She’s a very defensive player and you have to go for your shots," Cibulkova said after the win. "I was really risking it, my forehand was really working and I went for it."
It wasn't always pretty—four of the first six games in the final set were breaks—and it didn't get the exposure you'd might expect, thanks to the Williamses' losses and the Court No. 2 placement. But it felt pretty good for Cibulkova, that was obvious. And pretty horrible for Wozniacki, who walked off the court knowing full well of her latest mistep and the impending media interrogation. But that's what the Slams do, they ask the most of any player. It's a little different than New Haven, the tournament Wozniacki is planning on playing, just days before the U.S. Open begins.
—Ed McGrogan