US Open 2014: Why Caroline Wozniacki Could Surprise and Take the Title

Caroline Wozniacki has never won a Grand Slam title. She hasn't even been to a major final in five years. So why is Wozniacki poised to lift the trophy in New York on Sunday? Her confidence is at an all-time high.

It took plenty of heartbreak on and off the court for her to reach this point.

When Wozniacki made the 2009 US Open final as a 19-year-old, her future looked extremely bright. She lost that match 5-7, 3-6 to Kim Clijsters, but continued to build momentum over the following months.

In 2010, Wozniacki kept climbing the world rankings and going deep in tournaments. She reached the quarterfinals at the French Open and made a run to the semifinals at the US Open. Wozniacki finished that season with six titles and overtook Serena Williams to finish as the year-end No. 1.

Wozniacki enjoyed a remarkable 2011 season. That year, she made the semifinals at the Australian Open and the US Open, won six more tournaments and again finished as the top player in the world.

Off the court, she started dating professional golfer Rory McIlroy. Everything seemed to be working in her favor.

But after reaching the quarterfinals at the 2012 Australian Open, Wozniacki hit a slump that would plague her for the next two years.

She wouldn't advance past the fourth round at her next 10 Grand Slam appearances, and her ranking bottomed out at No. 18 this spring.

Wozniacki has always been a counter-puncher. She can't generate great pace with her shots, but her stellar movement and defense keep her in points until her opponent makes an unforced error. 

In 2012, Wozniacki's play slipped, and the other women on tour started overpowering her, as Martina Hingis noted when speaking to the Associated Press in 2012 (h/t USTA.com). She became too passive and reliant on her defense. 

Wozniacki lost in the first round of Wimbledon and the US Open that year, and she didn't win her first title until September at the Korea Open. It was a disappointing season.

But her dry spell was only just beginning.

Not much seemed to work for Wozniacki on the court in 2013. She failed to make it past the fourth round at any of the majors, and hit her lowest point that spring.

Wozniacki, nicknamed "Sunshine" for her cheery personality, didn't have much to smile about.

Her best result was reaching the finals at Indian Wells (lost to Sharapova). The only title she nabbed that year came in October at the Luxembourg Open. Her ranking continued to fall, and she finished 2013 with a 39-22 record. 

This year started off with more of the same for Wozniacki. She lost in the third round of the Australian Open, and the losses continued into the spring.

At least Wozniacki could lean on her then-fiancee, McIlroy, for support. But less than a week before the French Open, McIlroy broke up with her over the phone.

When she took the court in Paris, it was clear the breakup of the relationship had affected her, and she lost in the first round to Yanina Wickmayer.

Wozniacki talked to the press after the match, and she was candid about her emotional state: "Obviously, you're not prepared for something like this and it came a bit as a shock. I just tried to prepare the best that I could..."

At Wozniacki's next tournament in Eastbourne, she reached the semifinals before losing to Angelique Kerber. She then fell in the fourth round at Wimbledon, but she was starting to play better tennis.

In July, Wozniacki put together a strong week in Istanbul and won her first title of the year.

She seemed more focused on tennis after her breakup with McIlroy. The court started to become an escape from the endless gossip.

In her free time, Wozniacki even started training for the New York Marathon, which she said, via Bobby Chintapalli of USA Today, helps clear her mind: "It's hard work. I run a lot already in my training, so to put those extra miles in, I think it helps my head. I feel more free when I go on court."

Wozniacki's resurgence continued this summer.

She reached the quarterfinals in Montreal before losing 6-4, 5-7, 5-7 to Serena Williams.

The next week in Cincinnati, she recorded wins over two top-10 players (Kerber and Agnieszka Radwanska). She lost to Williams 6-2, 2-6, 4-6 in the semifinals, but looked strong heading into New York.

Wozniacki's 2014 US Open kicked off with a hard-fought win over Magdalena Rybarikova (6-1, 3-6, 2-0, retired). In her next two matches, she beat Aliaksandra Sasnovich (6-3, 6-4) and Andrea Petkovic (6-3, 6-2) in convincing fashion to set up a meeting with Maria Sharapova.

That match would further illustrate why Wozniacki has turned the corner.

In the first set, Wozniacki redirected Sharapova's shots well, and won 6-4.

Sharapova had an answer, though, and took the second set 6-2 with the help of her piercing forehands.

But Wozniacki wouldn't crumble. In the final set, she played more aggressively off the backhand wing and changed her patterns. Sharapova didn't have an answer, and Wozniacki took the set 6-2.

The win over Sharapova is crucial for Wozniacki. She stepped up and beat one of the top WTA players in a Grand Slam. That's a great way to rebuild confidence.

In the quarterfinals, Wozniacki demolished Sara Errani 6-0, 6-1. It was her most dominant win in years, and further showcased her rejuvenated game.

Wozniacki is inching closer to her first major title and returning to the ranks of the elite in women's tennis.

The biggest obstacle remaining in her way? Serena.

If Wozniacki advances past Peng Shuai in the semifinals, she'll likely meet Serena in the final. They've played nine times, with Serena holding an 8-1 advantage. Their only meeting in a Grand Slam came at the 2011 US Open semifinals, which Wozniacki lost 2-6, 4-6.

Momentum, however, may be shifting in Wozniacki's direction.

Though Wozniacki lost to Serena in Montreal and Cincinnati, she pushed her to the brink in both matches. They were tight contests, and Wozniacki didn't back down.

If they meet on Sunday, Wozniacki will still be riding the momentum from her thrilling win over Sharapova. She's playing freely again on the court, and her marathon training seems to have taken her fitness to another level.

Wozniacki has found peace in her game and with herself this summer. Now, she has a chance to win her maiden Grand Slam title on tennis' biggest stage.

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