TennisToday

What has Happened to Caroline Woes-niacki?

Caroline has suffered another early loss. This time at Stuttgart.

At the hands of up-and-comer Angelique Kerber 61 62 in the 2nd round.

Made all the more shocking by that dismal scoreline.

Remember Caro was #1 in January - she's tumbled all the way down to #6.

She is 18-8 on the year. No titles yet and only one final.

In 5 of those 8 tournaments she failed to get to the semifinals.

Not the Caro that finished #1 the last two years.

In fact, you have to go all the way beck to New Haven in August for a title.

What has changed in her life for her to suddenly crumble?

The only thing that comes to mind... is Rory.

I'm not begrudging her a love life but she clearly needs to manage it better.

She's very young - she'll sort it out.

Photo: Getty Images

Weekend Winners for April 15, 2012

ATP 250 Houston - Final

4 Juan Monaco d 2 John Isner - 62 36 63

Juan wins his 5th career title and 2nd of the 2012 season.

In the effort he has matched his ranking high of #14.

He is a clay court specialist with very few points to defend this clay swing.

If Juan plays his balls right he could quite well be a top 10 player by June.

That quest will begin this week at Monte-Carlo.

ATP 250 Casablanca - Final

3 Pablo Andujar d 7 Albert Ramos - 61 76(5)

Pablo wins his 2nd ATP title - both coming at Casablanca ('11).

The win propels him 19 spots to a ranking of #39 - one short of his high.

He will pop-over to Monte-Carlo this week where he's never played before.

He also has no matches to defend in Madrid and Rome.

If Pablo plays his balls right he could find himself seeded at Roland Garros.

WTA Copenhagen - Final

2 Angelique Kerber d 1 Caroline Wozniacki - 64 64

Ang wins her second WTA title - both coming this season.

She enjoys a rankings bump up to #14.

Ang prevented Caro from a hat-trick of titles at Copenhagen.

Caro seems to be, well... slipping.

She was #1 just a few months ago - she's currnetly ranked #6.

WTA Barcelona - Final

7 Sara Errani d 3 Dominika Cibulkova - 62 62

Sara wins her 4th WTA title and 2nd on the 2012 season.

As a result of her efforts she enjoys her highest ranking of #28.

She also took the doubles title yesterday with Roberta Vinci.

Serena & Venus Both Out in Quarterfinals at Miami

WTA Miami - Quarterfinals

4 Caroline Wozniacki d 10 Serena Williams - 64 64

5 Agnieszka Radwanska d W Venus Williams - 64 61

Strange to see both Williams sisters go out back-to-back without a set.

Venus looked exhausted from ball one - but it was nice seeing her return.

As for Serena - she was completely outplayed by Caro when it mattered.

Silver lining: Serena will move back into the top 10 next week.

We will be seeing more of S & V this season. Why? One word:

Olympics.

Venus has stated she really wants a spot on the team.

She is currently the 9th ranked American - she needs to be top 4 to qualify.

So she says she's going on a point-gobble tour in the coming months.

And of course they must play Fed Cup. They are.

I wonder how the doubles selection will be handled for London. Stay tuned.

Photos: Getty Images

Ana Ivanovic Sinks the Sinking Caroline Wozniacki at Indian Wells

WTA Indian Wells - Fourth Round

15 Ana Ivanovic d 4 Caroline Wozniacki - 63 62

The '08 Indian Wells champ dethroned the defending champ.

And Ana was jack-knifing that arm all over the place.

She even got her leg in on it too. I haven't seen her this 'jacked' in ages.

But I guess at this point in both careers it was a big scalp.

She'll get (7) Marion Bartoli next.

If she can win it'll be her first significant Sf in 3 years (IW '09 - a win).

Adje, Ana. Adje.

***

As for Caro. Someone needs to find her game.

These days its stuck in a sand trap. (See what I did there?)

Photo: Reuters

Caroline Wozniacki Wins Squeeker at Indian Wells

WTA Indian Wells - Third Round

4 Caroline Wozniacki d Sofia Arvidsson - 36 75 62

Caro was a just few points away from being shown the door.

Yea, I forgot too: She is the defending champion.

It does not feel like she will repeat.

Well, unless everyone catches that bug hitting the Palm Springs area.

Photo: Reuters

Rory McIlroy Steps in for Caro and Wins Point against Maria in NYC Last Night

Great fun.

Roger Federer is in NYC Y'all

Roger with the self-portrait! He posted this on Facebook today captioned:

Just landed in New York City from Dubai! Very excited to be in the Big Apple

For the exo tomorrow night at Madison Square Garden.

'Tis true. Roger is playing an exo match against Andy Roddick.

They've met a couple times before in NYC - both US Open wins for Rog.

Including a memorable 4-set match in the final.

But wait... it's a double bill: Caro Wozniacki vs Maria Sharapova.

Between Roger, Maria & Brooklyn I'm guessing Anna Wintour is in the chair?

Caroline Wozniacki into 3rd Round at Wimbledon

Wimbledon Women's Second Round

1 Caroline Wozniacki d Virginie Razzano - 61 63

All eyes seem to be on the Williams Sisters - but we have to watch Caro...

One of these days she's going to have a Slam breakthrough.

Wimbledon doesn't seem likely as it's her worst Slam.

She has never advanced past the 4th round and her W/L is 11/4.

And she has a tricky draw - with nemesis Goerges as a possible 4th rounder.

And Sharapova looms large as a likely quarterfinal opponent.

Hmmm.

Photo: Getty Images

Caroline Wozniacki Serves Up a Stinker at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Women's Third Round

28 Daniela Hantuchova d 1 Caroline Wozniacki - 61 63

Now please - do yourself a favor and take a damn week off.

I can't even write about this. I just can't. Except to caption the photo:

She who smelt it dealt it.

Photo: Getty Images

Caroline Wozniacki into 3rd Round at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Women's Second Round

1 Caroline Wozniacki d Aleksandra Wozniak - 63 76(6)

I didn't watch this one but I heard that Caro got a little testy today.

Here's what I do know - this will be her 14th straight Slam 3rd R: 9-4.

Caro: Thankfully I finished it in two sets. It could easily have been three...

I'm just going to take it one match at a time here and we'll see how it goes.

Next match will be a tough one... hopefully I can pull through.

That next match will be against Daniela Hantuchova - H2H: 3-0/CW.

She also cooed on Twitter today that her nails are the same color as her kit.

Mmm-kay.

Photo: Getty Images

Caroline Wozniacki, Nicolas Almagro & Andrea Petkovic All Tournament Winners Today

Brussels WTA

1 Caroline Wozniacki d 8 Shuai Peng - 26 63 63

Title #16.

Could this be a bit of foreshadowing? This was her first title on red clay.

She will play twice her age Kimiko Date Krumm 1st R at Roland Garros.

Heading for a certain showdown with Sam Stosur in the Qf's.

***

Nice ATP 250

3 Nicolas Almagro d Victor Hanescu - 67(5) 63 63

This is Nico's 10th career title & 3rd of the year - all on clay.

He must be considered a player who will make a decent run at RG.

Nico will open against Lukasz Kubot & is in the Murray/Melzer quarter.

***

Strasbourg WTA

2 Andrea Petkovic d 1 Marion Bartoli - 64 1-0 ret.

Petko wins her 2nd title and first in nearly two years.

She is certainly a dark horse in Paris.

She will begin her Roland Garros play against Bojana Jovanovski.

She is in the Clijsters/Sharapova quarter.

Maria Sharapova into Final at WTA Rome

Rome WTA - Semifinal

7 Maria Sharapova d 1 Caroline Wozniacki - 75 63

After 2 previous Sf showing Maria will finally play for the title in Rome.

Of her 22 titles she is looking to add a 3rd on clay.

Upward: A win tomorrow will boost her ranking up a spot to #7.

She'll play tough-customer Samantha Stosur - H2H: 7-0/MS.

In fact of their last 3 matches Sam has managed only 11 games.

OUCH.

Photo: Getty Images

Caroline Wozniacki into Semifinal at WTA Rome

Rome WTA - Quarterfinal

1 Caroline Wozniacki d 5 Jelena Jankovic - 63 16 63

People keep bitching about Caro - but you know what guys?

SHE SEEMS TO KEEP PLAYING ON THE WEEKENDS.

Caro has reached the Sf's or better at 7 of the 10 events she played in '11.

Serena is off the tour & Kim is part-time - how is this Caro's fault?

She plays by all the sames rules everyone else does...

Get over it people.

Photo: Getty Images

Julia Goerges Upsets Caroline Wozniacki Again - this Time at Madrid

Madrid WTA - Third Round

Julia Goerges d 1 Caroline Wozniacki - 64 16 63

Hmmm, Julia is suddenly a thorn in Caro's side.

Remember, Julia beat her in the final at Stuttgart 11 days ago.

And you just know...

The draw gods are gonna put them in the same quarter at Roland Garros.

Photo: Reuters

Julia Goerges has Big Upset Win for Title at Stuttgart

Stuttgart WTA - Final

Julia Goerges d 1 Caroline Wozniacki - 76(3) 63

Well, that's a good way to spike your ranking up from #32.

Suddenly Germany: Could this be the start of something big for Julia?

She had a great tourney beating 3 top 10 players: Caro, Sam & Vika.

Julia: I had goosebumps at match point.

It was an unbelievable feeling playing a final with so many people watching.

This is Julia's 2nd tour title following Bastad last year.

As for Caro - her 1st red clay title will have to wait a little longer.

She will next play at Madrid - let's see what she brings to Spain.

Photo: Reuters

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Drag in Monte-Carlo Player Party

This has been a crazy couple of days for crazy outfits.

But ding ding ding, we have a clear winner...

Caro tweeted this of Jo-Willy early from the MC player party.

Ok, we sooooo need video of this...

ATP & WTA Weekend Winners for April 10, 2011

The ATP saw Pablo Andujar & Ryan Sweeting win their 1st tour titles today.

***

Marbella WTA: 1 Victoria Azarenka d Q Irina-Camelia Gebu - 63 62

Vika makes it 2-in-a-row after winning at Miami last week.

Welcome to the top 5 girl!

Casablanca: Pablo Andujar d 5 Potito Starace - 61 62

Pablo is currently ranked #69. He is the 12th ranked Spaniard.

After today's win he should be up to #9 in Spain.

Charleston: 1 Caroline Wozniacki d Elena Vesnina - 62 63

This is Caro's 3rd title of 2011. And, yes, solidifies her #1 ranking.

Jet lag: She is playing an exo in Monte-Carlo tomorrow at 3. Phew.

Houston: WC Ryan Sweeting d 6 Kei Nishikori - 64 76(3)

Title #1 was accompanied with a jump in the River Oaks pool.

Ryan will see his ranking jump to just outside the top 50.

Quallies are gonna be a thing of the past.

Photos: AP/Reuters

Caroline Wozniacki into WTA Charleston Final

Charleston WTA - Semifinal

1 Caroline Wozniacki d 3 Jelena Jankovic - 64 64

Love her or not Caro sure does win a LOT of matches.

In her last 10 tournaments she has made the finals of 7 - winning 4.

She is a clear #1 in the rankings but many still refuse to give her props.

Including Chris Evert saying, "She needs to win the French."

Chris also said that Caro would "for sure" win a Slam in her career.

She'll next play Elena Vesnina - H2H: 4-1/CW - including the last 3.

Don't know about you but I'm ready for all the players to be in Europe.

Caroline Wozniacki Found Fernando Gonzalez in Miami

Oh, she found Andy Murray as well. But that Gonzo sighting is a happy one!

I hope this means he's on his way back to the tour.

He is currently ranked #255 - his last match was a 1st R loss at the USO.

Caro tweeted: Really nice to see Fernando back on court!

***

As for Andy Murray - he's in a crazy weird slump at the moment.

He reached the Aussie Open final and has lost 4 straight matches.

Caroline Wozniacki Wins WTA Title at Indian Wells

Indian Wells WTA Women's Final

1 Caroline Wozniacki d 15 Marion Bartoli - 61 26 63

Boy after the first set that sure became a highly entertaining match.

The win makes it 2 titles on the year and the 14th of her young career.

This is Caro's 2nd straight Premier Mandatory title - following Beijing '10.

The win also increases her ranking points at #1 by a wider margin over Kim.

Caro: I just love playing matches. I like winning. I like holding the trophy.

As for Marion she moves up to #10 - top 10 for the 1st time since July '08.

Marion: It has been a while since I was in the Top 10.

I really want to be at the Championships at the end of the year.

That's one of my main goals.

Both ladies are headed to Miami and have 1st round byes.

***

Below is Caro's heartfelt tribute to Japan from earlier in the week.

 

Photos: Getty Images