New York: Former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki couldn’t make it back to a third US Open final, but the Dane was pleased to have proved naysayers wrong with her run to the final four.
“I came into this tournament ranked 74 in the world and probably people ruled me out, but it’s nice to prove people wrong once again,” said Wozniacki, who was sidelined nearly three months with an ankle injury this year.
Wozniacki’s run to the semis included victories over ninth-seeded former champion Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia and eighth-seeded American Madison Keys.
But her bid to become just the fourth unseeded woman to reach the US Open final ran aground when she was beaten 6-4, 6-3 by newly minted world number one Angelique Kerber.
“Obviously right now I’m a little disappointed not to win today, but at the end of the day it’s been a good tournament, something I can be proud of.”
The 26-year-old is projected to improve to 28th in the world by reaching the semi-finals.
Her run at Flushing Meadows followed injury withdrawals from Montreal and Washington and a first-round exit at New Haven, so she was pleased to emerge from the US Open feeling fit.
“I feel very good body-wise,” she said. “I think it’s the best it’s felt in a while.
“I have gotten a lot of matches here, which is great. Hopefully I can just bring this momentum into the Asian swing.”
During the tournament Wozniacki declined to dampen speculation that she was in the verge of retiring from tennis.
Her father Piotr was quoted in Danish media as suggesting his daughter was unlikely to play beyond next year.
Asked again about her long-term plans, Wozniacki said she was only focusing on the immediate future.
“To be honest right now, my head isn’t anywhere,” she said. “I have the Asian swing to look forward to, so that’s really what I’m thinking about next. I’m playing Tokyo in a week’s time.”
