And with this loss, Caroline’s No. 1 ranking slowly begins to fade into the sunset.
After watching their battle during the WTA Championships this past November, one could sense that it was only a matter of time before Agnieszka Radwanska would turn the tables on Caroline Wozniacki and win one of these titanic 3-set struggles… which she did recently at the 2012 Sydney International. Caroline served for the match in the second set, but fell woefully short as she was broken twice to lose the set and eventually the match 3-6 7-5 6-2.
Her No. 1 ranking was already in jeopardy of being snatched by Petra Kvitova (if Petra goes on to win the tournament), but now it seems more likely than not she will be losing it the top spot regardless of what happens this week. She wasn’t defending a large number of points in Sydney, but she was a semifinalist in Melbourne. That’s a whole lot of points to defend. If her “injured” left wrist isn’t well enough to support a good Aussie Open campaign, Petra will be the next #1 within a couple of weeks.
(NOTE: I’m casting no aspersions on Caroline’s wrist injury (sore tendon) with the quotation marks. But for God’s sake, it’s the first event of the year and she is already injured? Oi. That doesn’t bode well for the next 10 months…)
As I watched the match, l couldn’t help but note (again) how every time that Aga hit the ball she moved forward. And every time that Caroline hit the ball she moved back. The difference was especially pronounced when viewed in the aerial shots. Yes, Caroline’s defense is a great thing. Though it was ultimately a losing battle, it saved her several set points at the tail end of the second set. But that defense, no matter how great, is never going to “win” her a major title.
The knock on Caroline, this past year and in general, is that she errs too often on the side of defense instead of seizing her opportunities for offensive play. She has tried to weather that criticism as best she can, and has even looked for (and found) a coach to help her work toward a more aggressive game. Yet when serving for the win in a tough match, she is again betrayed by her natural inclinations.
I feel sorry for Caroline. All she has ever tried to do is become the best tennis player she can be. Not number one, not a major champion. Just her personal best. Fitness and consistency were her trademarks, not flashy shots, overwhelming pace and spectacular winners. For that consistency she earned the number one ranking, something that should be coveted and respected. She didn’t buy it, she wasn’t appointed number one, she earned it.
But as we’ve seen since her ascension to the top, that wasn’t enough for her fans or her critics. A grand slam title was the only thing that was ever going to give her legitimacy. With each passing slam, that goal has seemed to slip farther out of her reach. This year’s Australian Open unfortunately seems to be following that pattern. If she can’t defend her points her run at #1 is over. More important, the confidence she gained from that ranking will most likely go with it.
I don’t expect her to slide quite as hard as Ana Ivanovic after her post-French Open meltdown. She is mentally tougher than that. But I can’t imagine that hanging out in the top will be enough for someone who held the top spot for so long.
Major props to Radwanska for a great win. And here’s hoping that the sore wrist tendons don’t affect Caroline in Melbourne. She’s got enough going against her already.