Indian Wells: Wozniacki wins battle of mums over Kerber to reach quarters, faces Swiatek next
The Dane equalled her head-to-head against Kerber at 8-8 after the straight sets win today
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Caroline Wozniacki overcame Angelique Kerber in a match that had been billed as the clash of the returning mums to advance to the quarter-finals of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells on Tuesday evening.
The former world No 1 from Denmark needed one hour and 30 minutes to beat her good friend Kerber 6-4, 6-2 and set up a clash against world No 1 Iga Swiatek, from Poland, next.
The win equals the head-to-head between the two Grand Slam champions at 8-8. Playing the seventh tournament since unretiring last summer, this is the first time that Wozniacki has won four matches in that span.
Speaking on court after her win, Wozniacki said she was enjoying being back on the tour and competing against the best players in the world. “I don’t take anything for granted. I took a very long break. More than 3 and a half years. For me to be back here on this court playing against the best players in the world is a special feeling. I’m just enjoying myself and I’m just thrilled I get another match in front of all of you guys…”
I know that I have to play my best tennis to compete against her, and that’s what I hope to do.
Caroline Wozniacki on facing world No 1 Iga Swiatek next
Looking ahead to her clash with Swiatek, the Dane said she will have to play her best in order to compete with the Pole.
“I think I have obviously commentated some of her matches. I know how she’s playing. Obviously she’s playing good tennis, playing powerfully. I practiced with her as well a few times after I have come back, during the US Open as well. I know how she plays, but it’s one thing knowing how she plays and also playing against her in a full match. I know that I have to play my best tennis to compete against her, and that’s what I hope to do,” Wozniacki said.
Ahead of her win today, the 33-year-old Dane beat Chinese Lin Zhu (7-6 (6), 6-1), Croat Donna Vekic, the No 25 seed (7-6 (5), 6-3) and American wildcard Katie Volynets (6-2, 4-6, 6-0).
The mother-of-two now has 156 hardcourt wins in WTA 1000 Series events, tying Agnieszka Radwanska for the most on that count since the format was introduced in 2009. When she takes on Swiatek, it will be her 37th quarter-final at a WTA 1000 Series event, third on the all-time list behind Radwanska (42) and Simona Halep (39).
Kerber defeated Croat Petra Martic (6-3, 6-4), Latvian Jelena Ostapenko, the No 10 seed (5-7, 6-3, 6-3) and Russian Veronika Kudermetova, the No 17 seed (6-4, 7-5) earlier in the tournament.
Indian Wells WTA 1000, other round of 16 results (Indian Wells Tennis Garden, hard, USD 9,258,080):
- Marta Kostyuk (31) beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (22): 6-4, 6-1
- Anastasia Potapova (28) beat Jasmine Paolini (13): 7-5, 0-6, 6-3
- Yue Yuan vs. Daria Kasatkina
- Diane Parry vs. Maria Sakkari
- Elise Mertens vs. Coco Gauff
- Emma Navarro vs. Aryna Sabalenka
- Iga Swiatek vs. Yulia Putintseva
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