Caroline Wozniacki and Chelsey Gullickson took the court in Arthur Ashe stadium late Tuesday, only a small fraction of the crowd remained. Rafael Nadal, the captivating top seed on the men’s side, had already beaten Teymuraz Gabashvili in just under three hard-fought hours, and few decided to stay for the less well-known women’s No. 1.Seeking her first major title, 2009 U.S. Open runner-up Wozniacki beat NCAA champion Chelsey Gullickson 6-1, 6-1 in the first round at Flushing Meadows.Because of long matches earlier, this one began at 11:52 p.m. Tuesday night and ended at 12:53 a.m. Wednesday.“Thank you for sticking around,” Wozniacki told what was left of the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd afterward, “even though I know it’s been a long night.”
On a day of long matches and extended play, Wozniacki simply overpowered her opponent, and then made sure to tell the few hundred people who remained to watch it how much she appreciated their support. "I want to say thanks to everyone for sticking around," she said on court. "I know it’s been a long night." The match did not begin until 11:51 p.m. because the Nadal-Gabashvili match started 90 minutes late because Maria Sharapova required three sets to beat Jarmila Groth in the final match of the day card on Ashe.So day matches turned into night matches, early night matches became late night matches, and late night matches became early Wednesday morning matches.
Caroline Wozniacki seems to have all the right genes for a tennis star. Her father played professional soccer for Poland and Denmark, and her mother played volleyball for the Polish national team. Along with strong legs, good hands, and a great feel for spinning and placing a ball, Caroline has a calm, cheerful disposition, which can be as essential an asset as anything physical.
Caroline started playing tennis at age 7, and by the time she was 9, she was beating her parents and older brother. Just after turning 15, in 2005, Wozniacki turned pro, but she only played two events and didn't have any main-draw wins. In 2006, while still 15, Caroline made the junior singles final at the Australian Open and the junior doubles final at Roland Garros, and she won the junior singles title at Wimbledon. She also won her first pro tournament, an ITF event, and made the quarterfinals at two WTA events.2007 was the first year Caroline played a full pro schedule. She won two more ITF singles titles, made her first semifinal at a WTA event, and made the second rounds at Wimbledon and the US Open, thus working her way up to #88 in the world.
