The US Open Thread #1/Sports Thread #1 For 9/10/10: Vera Whacks Wozniacki To Earn 2nd Grand Slam Final; Williams-Clijsters Live
Photo from AP's Paul BereswillWhen the top draw was revealed for the women at the US Open, most through Caroline Wozniacki, Maria Sharapova, or even Svetlana Kuznetsova would be the finals representative from that section.
Vera Zvonareva thought differently.
For the 2nd time in as many Grand Slams, Zvonareva has advanced to the finals with a comprehensive 6-4, 6-3 domination of top seed favorite Wozniacki.
It was a terrific mental and tactical performance from Zvonareva, as the Russian controlled the middle of the court, aggressively was stable at the net, and made her Danish opponent play her looses match of the tournament.
For Wozniacki, the forward and consistent play from her opposition this afternoon clearly got her out of her comfortable zone, as she committed multiple errors on the forehand side. She had no answer for the solid serving of Zvonareva today, only breaking her once at 2-1 in the 2nd, only to donate the break back at 15 the next game.
Despite not dropping a set on her way to the final, Zvonareva will still be looked at as the underdog against either Kim Clijsters or Venus Williams.
But with how she played today, she will not be bothered by that in the least bit.
It was a forgettable day for Caroline Wozniacki (Photo from AP's Darron Cummings)
Early match predictions:
Consistency will be the key with both of these similar players, and Zvonareva must attack Wozniacki's second serve in these windy conditions, and take her down the line shots whenever she is given them, along with coming forward.
For Wozniacki, keeping Zvonareva off balance like she did in Montreal is necessary, as well winning those cheap points off her first serve.
Zvonareva has shown that she can win some big matches of late, and you can argue that Wozniacki has the pressure here a little more.
Nevertheless, I say, Wozniacki in three tough sets.
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