US Open Tennis 2014: Day 12 Results, Highlights and Scores Recap from New York
Caroline Wozniacki and Serena Williams will face off for the 2014 U.S. Open title on Sunday after earning semifinal victories on Friday.
A day after the men took the stage at Flushing Meadows, the women received their turn on Day 12 of the New York-based tournament. The four remaining competitors were forced to play through grueling heat on a scorching-hot afternoon, and the overbearing sun forced the opening match to end early.
Wozniacki will hunt for her first Grand Slam title, but to do so she must prevent Williams from adding an 18th trophy to her crowded mantle. Let's take a step back to examine how the two future opponents set up this showdown.
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| No. 10 Caroline Wozniacki def. Shuai Peng | 7-6 (1), 4-3 (Retired) |
| No. 1 Serena Williams def. No. 17 Ekaterina Makarova | 6-1, 6-3 |
Recap: Women's Semifinals
No. 10 Caroline Wozniacki defeats Shuai Peng, 7-6 (1), 4-3 (Retired)
A competitive, entertaining match ended in unbearable fashion, as Shuai Peng reluctantly retired during the second set due to severe cramps.
Following a Wozniacki double fault, Peng fell to the ground in pain. Trainers examined her off the court, causing a 10-minute delay ruled an official medical timeout. Peng returned to play but collapsed in greater pain after surrendering the ensuing two sets.
The 28-year-old was forced to forfeit the match before getting carried off in a wheelchair.
ESPN's Jane McManus relayed John McEnroe's comments from the broadcast booth after the ugly scene unfolded.
Wozniacki also felt weary winning a shortened match. Per BBC Sport's Piers Newbery:
"It's very difficult," Wozniacki said. "You're out here and you want to battle and finish it off properly. I feel sorry for Peng, she played really well. It was really hot out there, it was just unfortunate she was ill."
In the biggest match to date of her career, Peng would not surrender until left with no other option. That never-say-die attitude often draws admiration, but it also places athletes in danger. Mary Carillo felt someone should have taken the decision away from Peng before she resumed play during her first semifinal appearance.
Uncertainty from U.S. Open officials also clouded this ugly situation, and USA Today's Erik Gudris believes yet another incident could cause change in on-court tennis procedures.
Before the unfortunate ending, they traded points in a closely contested bout. Wozniacki took the first set but only after securing a tiebreaker. During that opening set, she committed five double faults but also won 19 out of 26 first-serve points, according to USOpen.org.
Regardless of the path there, Wozniacki has an opportunity to capture her first Grand Slam title this weekend. The 24-year-old had not previously made the quarterfinals since the 2012 Australian Open.
No. 1 Serena Williams defeats No. 17 Ekaterina Makarova, 6-1, 6-3
If there was any doubt whether Serena Williams had left, she's certainly back now. The top-ranked star will play in her first major championship of the year after making quick work of Ekaternia Makarova in the semifinals.
Perhaps worried about missing dinner reservations, Williams wasted no time sending Makarova and the crowd packing. According to the U.S. Open's Twitter page, the dominating first set took less than a half-hour to complete.
The 26-year-old Russian put up a better fight in set No. 2, this time claiming three games. Down 5-1, she would not fade into the distance. Yet it proved too little, too late, as Williams ended the deepest Grand Slam run of Makarova's career.
Williams finished the match with 27 receiving points and 20-of-26 first-serve points won, giving the 32-year-old a chance to win her sixth U.S Open title.
Salvaging an otherwise shaky season, Williams will now make a Grand Slam finals appearance in her eighth consecutive year. With the way she's currently dismantling the field, Wozniacki will have a tough time maintaining Williams' 2014 title drought.
Williams has yet to drop a set during the tournament, and none of her six opponents have come particularly close. Nobody claimed more than three games over Williams during a given set in Queens.
With Williams at top form, Wozniacki will enter the championship as a major underdog.
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