Caroline Wozniacki reveals battle with rheumatoid arthritis
Caroline Wozniacki says she has been suffering with rheumatoid arthritis for the last few months. Wozniacki, who won the Australian Open in January, was diagnosed with the auto-immune disease prior to the US Open this summer, but has been able to play through it.
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Match report
Elina Svitolina joined Karolina Pliskova in the last four of the WTA Finals in Singapore, after winning the second set of her contest against defending champion Caroline Wozniacki 5-7, 7-5, 6-3.
Wozniacki knew only a straight-sets victory would be enough and won the last three games of the opening set to take it 7-5 and give herself hope.
The Dane was a break up in the second as well but Svitolina, who had won both her opening matches, hit back and finally took her fifth set point in the 12th game to win it 7-5, celebrating exuberantly.
While she was already through, having won more sets than Wozniacki had available meaning the Dane was unable to finish above her in the group, she still needed to claim the match victory in order to finish in first place.
The final set was played in a slightly curious atmosphere, both players knowing their fate, but Svitolina came through to win in style, taking a terrific final game to win the set 7-5.
Earlier in the day, Pliskova defeated Petra Kvitova to become the first player to qualify.
With two matches played in both groups, all eight players remained in contention for the last four. But Kvitova’s hopes were soon over, with only a straight-sets victory enough to give her a chance, and Pliskova recovered from 3-0 down in the second set to beat her fellow Czech 6-3 6-4.
The qualifiers from the second group will be decided on Friday, with all four players - Angelique Kerber, Sloane Stephens, Kiki Bertens and Naomi Osaka - still competing for the two semi-final spots.
Here’s the final standings in the...erm...White Group.
Svitolina speaks: “Unbelievable. I’m very very happy. Caroline pushes you in every game, and I pushed myself mentally. It’s a big achievement for me - I’ve been working for it for many years. It’s not over yet, so I have to stay really positive.”
A perfect record for Svitolina in the tournament so far then: three matches, three wins, and she tops the group, ahead of Karolina Pliskova. She’ll go into the semi-finals at the weekend, where she’ll play whoever finishes second in the other group. Which, at this stage, could be any of the four.
Svitolina wins 5-7, 7-5, 6-3
Wozniacki, as they say, not going down without a fight. A smash is followed by a delicate drop-volley to put her 30-0 up on the Svitolina serve, then a double-fault gives her three break points. But Svitolina comes back with a brilliant backhand down the line, on the run, Wozniacki goes long and suddenly they’re back to deuce. Wozniacki then nets...match point...saved! Great stuff that, flicking a backhand past Svitolina at the net. But after a bit of back and forth, Svitolina closes out the game, set and match with a wonderful backhand drop volley!
Third set: Wozniacki* 7-5, 5-7, 3-5 Svitolina (*denotes server) A fist-pump from Svitolina as Wozniacki goes long and gives the Ukrainian two break points. The first is saved, but she takes the second, and looks entirely delighted about it. She’ll now serve for the match and top spot in the group.
Third set: Wozniacki 7-5, 5-7, 3-4 Svitolina* (*denotes server) This might be the point where it gets a little more loose. Svitolina comes in and plays a fine drop shot just over the net, which I think is the first time she’s tried that in this match, then Wozniacki tries something similar with...worse results. Svitolina holds.
Third set: Wozniacki* 7-5, 5-7, 3-3 Svitolina (*denotes server) Wozniacki, who looked throughly effed off between this game and the last, holds to 30, and Svitolina howls at the moon after putting a simple forehand into the net. She still cares about the result, it seems.
Third set: Wozniacki 7-5, 5-7, 2-3 Svitolina* (*denotes server) This last set is just turning into a slugfest. Another serve hold. Svitolina has called for her coach, for some reason. Maybe she needs the motivation to play on and win it. He comes out but runs out of things to say after a few seconds.
Third set: Wozniacki* 7-5, 5-7, 2-2 Svitolina (*denotes server) Wozniacki trying to get herself motivated for this, but it’s a struggle. The mind does wander to what this set would be like if Nick Kyrgios was playing it. Wozniacki holds to love.
Third set: Wozniacki 7-5, 5-7, 1-2 Svitolina* (*denotes server) A double fault! The first of the game. Suspect we might see a few more of those as they try to blast through the set. It’s not that they’re no longer trying, it just that subtlety has gone out of the window, and both players are being rather more aggressive. Svitolina does that by approaching the net and slapping a short-arm forehand past a grasping Wozniacki.
Third set: Wozniacki* 7-5, 5-7, 1-1 Svitolina (*denotes server) Looks like these two are keen to rattle through this set as quickly as possible, and who can blame them? Wozniacki wins that one to love, and both have one of those looks in their eyes.
Third set: Wozniacki 7-5, 5-7, 0-1 Svitolina* (*denotes server) So how will this one pan out from here? Both players can basically relax so will this lead to some fast and loose tennis? Maybe not. Wozniacki wins a brilliant first point, but loses the rest and thus the game.
Both players have ducked off court for a breath and a break. Reminder: Svitolina is now through to the semi-finals, having got the set she needed to seal at least a top-two spot in the (unfortunately-named) white group. If she wins the match, she will top the group. Wozniacki is now faced with an essentially pointless set: she is out, and playing just for...I dunno. Pride? Is there any extra prize money she can win?
Svitolina wins the second set 7-5!
Second set: Wozniacki* 7-5, 5-7 Svitolina (*denotes server) Bang! A blasted forehand down the line gives Svitolina two set points...effectively points to stay in the tournament. Wozniacki saves the first with a gutsy deep forehand that Svitolina can’t get above the net...then the second as a backhand goes just - just, just, just - long. Then another, as a Wozniacki shot flicks off the net cord and sits up nicely for her to nail a cross-court forehand...but a big second serve from Wozniacki forces Svitolina to put the ball into the net. Then another of those brilliantly constructed points from Wozniacki, first sending one deep, followed by an audacious drop-volley that has her opponent sprawling like a first-time ice skater. But wait! How topsy and turvey! Two errors from Wozniacki give Svitolina one more chance to clinch it...but AGAIN Wozniacki - under enormous pressure - puts a forehand right into the corner - right into the corner - beyond Svitolina. But she responds with a brilliant cross-court forehand - what a game this is - and this time takes it as Wozniacki goes long! Svitolina is through!
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Second set: Wozniacki 7-5, 5-6 Svitolina* (*denotes server) But let’s not rule out Svitolina just yet! The second set diverts from the first in that it’s Svitolina who wins the 11th game, holding just as clinically as her opponent did last time. Wozniacki must serve for her place in the tournament once more.
Second set: Wozniacki* 7-5, 5-5 Svitolina (*denotes server) And just as in the first set, Wozniacki snuffs out the immediate danger like one of those macho lads snuffing out a flame with their bare thumb and forefinger. She holds to 15, barely a whiff of fuss. The two sets have more or less entirely mirrored each other here.
Second set: Wozniacki 7-5, 4-5 Svitolina* (*denotes server) That said, Svitolina holds with such ease that you wonder how she was ever in trouble in this match. Just as in the first set, Woziacki is now serving to stay in the tournament.
Second set: Wozniacki* 7-5, 4-4 Svitolina (*denotes server) Wozniacki just seems to be able to pull out one of those controlled points whenever she needs at the moment. Of course it helps when your opponent batters a simple enough volley into the net, which Svitolina does to end the game. This is intangible to a degree, but it seems like Wozniacki is just a bit more capable of finding something in the big points.
Second set: Wozniacki 7-5, 3-4 Svitolina* (*denotes server) Clinical stuff from Svitolina: this is a match with fluctuations, but at the moment it is fluctuating in Svitolina’s favour, closing out a game smoothly. It’s an extremely even match, this: first serve percentage is basically level, as is points won on first serve, although Wozniacki is way ahead on second serve points won.
Second set: Wozniacki* 7-5, 3-3 Svitolina (*denotes server) Every now and then Wozniacki looks like she has Svitolina on a bit of string, sending her exactly where she wants on the court, as displayed by sending her deep to the forehand side before putting simple backhand volley into the vacant space. Then Wozniacki wins with a glorious, unconventional shot to end a brilliant rally: bit difficult to describe really: it was a backhand, she was down low, a sort of half-scoop, half-slice that skimmed over the net and left Svitolina with no chance.
Second set: Wozniacki 7-5, 2-3 Svitolina* (*denotes server) Absolutely delicious drop-volley at the net from Wozniacki, delicately taking a backhand just over the net. But Svitolina comes back to win the game, closing it out with a terrific deep backhand, which Woziacki can only send long. Advantage Svitolina. For now.
Second set: Wozniacki* 7-5, 2-2 Svitolina (*denotes server) Wozniacki gets a warning for being too slow after the serve clock ticks over, but it seemed someone was taking a picture/moving in the crowd. Seems a little harsh. Wozniacki zips through the first couple of points but Svitolina not only drags it back, but rapidly takes it to break point...which she wins! Wozniacki puts a forehand into the net, and just when it looked like she might have this match by the scruff, they’re immediately back level.
Second set: Wozniacki 7-5, 2-1 Svitolina* (*denotes server) Wozniacki has Svitolina on the ropes with a ruthless smash, but lets her off the hook a little by putting a forehand long. But then a volley goes long and the Dane has a pair of break points: and she takes the first! A little half-volley goes past Svitolina after an exchange at the net, and Wozniacki breaks in the third game, exactly as she did in the first set.
Second set: Wozniacki* 7-5, 1-1 Svitolina (*denotes server) A backhand loops slowly, slowly, slowly down the line from Svitolina...but loops long. Wozniacki holds when Svitolina goes long with a backhanded second serve return. Two fairly uneventful games to kick off this second set.
Second set: Wozniacki 7-5, 0-1 Svitolina* (*denotes server) There’s one of those weird pause-silences as Wozniacki half-thinks an ace from Svitolina has gone out, waiting for it to be called, and the crowd follow suit. But it isn’t, and the Ukrainian takes a relatively straightforward hold to take the first game of the second set. Just another reminder: this set is essentially winner-takes-all. If Wozniacki wins, obviously she wins the match and goes through, but if Svitolina wins she goes through to the semi-finals on sets won in the round robin group.
Wozniacki wins the first set 7-5
A long rally ends when Wozniacki puts a forehand out, just leaning back enough that you knew it was long as it left the racket. Svitolina tries to challenge a forehand called long on the baseline, but is solemnly informed she has burned through her challenges. A forehand loops long and Wozniacki has two set points: which she snaps up with a terrific ace! The match is alive!
First set: Wozniacki 6-5 Svitolina* (*denotes server) Svitolina howls in frustration after putting a backhand wide, but that one was after a strong volley from Wozniacki, rather than a heinous mistake of her own. But ultimately it’s with good reason: Wozniacki breaks, having been in control of most of the game with some of those terrific backhands, and will now serve for the set!
Meanwhile, anyone else singing Svitolina’s name to this early-90s hip-hop classic by Del tha Funky Homosapien?
First set: Wozniacki* 5-5 Svitolina (*denotes server) Wozniacki serving to stay in the tournament, but confusingly not the match. And she does, with the help of some terrific serves and some careless shots from Svitolina, a backhand down the line that goes well wide, particularly irksome.
First set: Wozniacki 4-5 Svitolina* (*denotes server) Always easy to read too much into these things, but could Wozniacki’s complaints have first Svitolina up? She certainly seems to have some renewed purpose, although that hold is sealed when Wozniacki is flummoxed by a slow second serve and puts it into the net. Remember: if Svitolina wins this set, the remaining two of the game are essentially pointless, as that would put her through along with Karolina Pliskova.
First set: Wozniacki* 4-4 Svitolina (*denotes server) Always an interesting feature of these tournaments where on-court coaching is allowed: the cameras get right up in the player and coach’s respective grills, so we can hear what they’re saying. Alas, Wozniacki’s conversation with pa Piotr is in Polish, so I cannot enlighten you. Easier to understand is Wozniacki’s complaint to the umpire: she seems unhappy with Svitolina’s grunting, which she claims is happening after she hits the ball. Perhaps that gets into her head, as Svitolina breaks back! She seals it with a nicely constructed point - during which she pointedly didn’t grunt - bringing Wozniacki to the net before clipping a volley down the line for a winner.
First set: Wozniacki 4-3 Svitolina* (*denotes server) Svitolina is struggling for consistency it seems: another brilliant backhand winner down the line is followed by putting a relatively regulation forehand into the net. Lovely drop volley from Wozniacki brings them level at 30-30, but Svitolina takes the hold after a point in which two of Wozniacki’s shot loop up off the net cord, both as it turns out to Svitolina’s advantage.
First set: Wozniacki* 4-2 Svitolina (*denotes server) Woof! Wozniacki doesn’t smell a fierce return down the line from Svitolina, but ultimately it doesn’t do much good. At the moment Wozniacki seems to be more in control of the points, pulling her opponent this way and that across the court, making her do the majority of the running.
First set: Wozniacki 3-2 Svitolina* (*denotes server) Another tracer bullet - backhand, cross-court, not too far from her opponent but leaving her with no prayer nonetheless - from Wozniacki puts Svitolina in trouble again. But from 15-30 she does well to come back and salvage the hold.
First set: Wozniacki* 3-1 Svitolina (*denotes server) Wozniacki looks very ready for this. She hits a winner down the line which might as well have flames on it. Then she wins a sensational point at 30-30, drop-shots and volleys and criss-crossing runs over the court ending with a backhand low volley.
First set: Wozniacki 2-1 Svitolina* (*denotes server) Svitolina challenges a wide call on a shot that was a good six inches out: not the best use of Hawkeye, or whatever they’re calling the review system. But that’s just one of many errors she makes in that game, the final one being one what looks like a mistimed jump for an attempted smash at the net, the ball it flies off the frame and waaaaaaay out. Wozniacki breaks early.
First set: Wozniacki* 1-1 Svitolina (*denotes server) Brilliant point at 30-15 as they trade backhands, then forehands, then backhands again, before Svitolina reaches for a crosscourt and puts it into the tramlines. Wozniacki holds with a fine half-volley from a strong backhand return, aimed right at her toes.
First set: Wozniacki 0-1 Svitolina* (*denotes server) Wozniacki needs a fast start - remember, she has to win in straight sets - and she gets it, going 40-0 up on Svitolina’s serve. The Ukrainian saves the first two break points with a couple of good, deep forehands, then Wozniacki puts the third into the net. And then Svitolina emphasises that she’s settled into the match by closing out the opening game with an ace.
Wozniacki doesn’t seem too perturbed about her equipment after the knock-up. A mystery. Meanwhile, some stragglers take some time in getting to their seats, but now they’ve made themselves comfortable, they can play.
Interesting: bit of an animated conversation between Wozniacki and her father (sitting in the stands), which looks like it’s about her racket. String tension? Not enough spares? Accidentally packed a wooden one that Margaret Court used to use?
“I have to be patient - but aggressively patient,” says Wozniacki. I think that just about makes sense.
Accompanied by music louder than her yellow trainers, Svitolina is introduced to the crowd. And here comes Wozniacki, a plaster on her knee, but favouring rather more traditional white pumps.
Preamble
What to do when you know you don’t actually have to win, to win? Elina Svitolina is virtually in the semi-finals out in Singapore. All she needs to confirm her place is to win a set - just one, measly little set - against Caroline Wozniacki to ensure her progression. Trouble is, that sort of thinking can get in your head, when you know you could lose and still be OK. Even if you continue to go all-out and blaze away for the win, the nagging thoughts might appear.
QUALIFIED: Karolina Pliskova
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) October 25, 2018
- If Svitolina wins: Svitolina wins the group, Pliskova finishes 2nd.
- If Wozniacki wins in two sets: Pliskova wins the group, Wozniacki finishes 2nd.
- If Wozniacki wins in three sets: Pliskova wins the group, Svitolina finishes second.
For Wozniacki, things are clearer. She needs to win, and (I think - the WTA website is not the clearest) win in straight sets to have any chance of progressing, after Karolina Pliskova’s win over Petra Kvitova earlier on this morning.
So, then. Let’s see how this pans out. And let’s see if I’ve got those permutations right...
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