[1] Carolina Wozniacki (DEN) vs. [9] Angelique Kerber (GER)
Winning breeds confidence, which results in more success. Wozniacki has finally overcome that invisible barrier that prevented her from winning the big titles. Something clicked internally once she was able to defeat Venus Williams to win the 2017 WTA Finals title, which at that time was the biggest title of her career.
Now the proud owner of a major title as well, the 2018 Australian Open, Wozniacki seems to have gone to a new level mentally. She has always been physically fit; however, something internally had prevented her from performing at her best at the big moments until she defeated Venus Williams for the first time.
Wozniacki believes, really believes that no matter the obstacle, she will overcome. Today she was down and the momentum was all on Kerber’s side; yet, somehow, Wozniacki found a way to fight her way through to the three set victory.
Things went south for Kerber after she failed to consolidate the early break lead she had in the third set. It seemed to have taken everything she had, emotionally and physically, to mount the comeback and when she lost the lead, she had nothing left.
Completely physically and mentally drained, Kerber became prey for Wozniacki’s attack. Once Wozniacki broke back, she started dictating play in the third set, pushing Kerber around the court, further exhausting her. Once it was evident that she could not mount her own comeback, Kerber became frustrated. The realization that she had expended too much energy to win her match yesterday finally sunk in when she was broken a second time.
Wozniacki was relentless and did not give Kerber any opportunity to get back in the match. She defeated Kerber 7-6(4), 1-6, 6-3 and in doing so, she retains the number one ranking.
SOURCE OF IMAGE: Zimbio.com (Mark Kolbe/Getty Images AsiaPac: Caroline Wozniacki)
