05 September,2015 01:40 PM IST | | PA Sports
That’s how fourth seed Caroline Wozniacki described her shock loss to Petra Cetkovska in the US Open second round
Caroline Wozniacki
NEW YORK: Fourth seed Caroline Wozniacki spurned four match points as she crashed out of the US Open second round in a final-set tie-break against Petra Cetkovska yesterday.
Caroline Wozniacki reacts after losing a point against Petra Cetkovska during their US Open second round match yesterday. Pic/AFP
Wozniacki, who was runner-up at Flushing Meadows in 2009 and 2014, appeared to have the match in her grasp after she came from a set and 4-1 down to lead 6-5 in the decider.
Cetkovska, however, saved four match points on her serve and then blew her opponent away in the tie-break to win 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (7/1) in a thrilling final night match in Arthur Ashe stadium. Wozniacki's shock exit means only three of the top 10 seeds remain in the women's third round. "It really sucks to lose a match like that," Wozniacki said.
Petra Cetkovska reacts after beating Caroline Wozniacki. Pic/AFP
"Here, not playing my best level, but still being so close, and still having my chances but not closing it out, that hurts. That really hurts."
Cetkovska, ranked 149th in the world, has never been past the fourth round of a major tournament and has endured a serious hip injury, for which she had an operation in September last year.
Returning to action in March, the Czech lost in the first round at both the French Open and Wimbledon, before entering the US Open with a protected ranking, which is available to players after long-term injury.
Overcoming injury...
"It was sensational," Cetkovska said of her surprise win. "This injury that I've overcome, it was really difficult. Those first months it was extremely difficult.
"Every day I was asking myself if I will be able to play tennis again, to play on such a big stadium, to play such a big match and win it.
"No, to be honest, I was not really thinking of it because it was not really going so well in the beginning. So for me it is just an amazing feeling, like satisfaction for everything that I have gone through."
Cetkovska will now face Italy's Flavia Pennetta, who witnessed a drone interrupt her victory over Monica Niculescu in Louis Armstrong stadium.
