By Joe McDonald | Tuesday, August 29, 2017

 

""It’s my favorite tournament of the year," Caroline Wozniacki said of the US Open.

Photo credit: @USOpen

Whether she's racing across the court or cycling in Central Park with boyfriend David Lee, New York City is Caroline Wozniacki’s town and the US Open is her tournament.

The No. 5 seed has had her greatest success here in Flushing Meadows and frankly you can consider it her home tournament since she actually owns an apartment in New York.

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“I love this tournament,” she said after beating Romanian Mihaela Buzarnescu in straight sets, 6-1, 7-5, on opening day. "It’s my favorite tournament of the year. I think it’s very special. I always get great support. So, yeah, it definitely is a very special tournament to me.”

Wozniacki, now 27, went to the final twice (2009, 2015) and the semifinal three times (2010, 2011, 2016) at the US Open. In contrast, she's only made the semis once in the other three Grand Slams combined--that came six years ago in Australia.

So, with such a wide open field, you have to think if she is on her game, she can make a run this year, especially without her buddy, Serena Williams, who is about to give birth to her first child, competing.

“I think obviously Serena is always, you know, the favorite when she plays, and she’s at a level on her own when she’s playing her best tennis,” Woznizcki said. “But, you know, we’re here, and I think everyone has a shot if they play their best. But it’s all about playing well for two weeks.”

The unknown was a first-round challenge: Wozniacki last played Buzarnescu in juniors.

In fact, “Until yesterday I thought she was a righty, then I realized she was a lefty,” Wozniacki said. “Yeah, I just kind of had to feel my way through that one.”

And she is still adjusting to the new USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, which has undergone renovations the last few years.

A star of so many night matches on Arthur Ashe Stadium, Wozniacki opened the 2017 tournament on the new Grandstand, which opened last year and although it bears the same name as the recently demolished Stadium No. 3, there’s no comparison.

“I have kind of some sentiments to the old Grandstand. It was very cozy. It was very close. I really loved that court,” Wozniacki said. “This court is also awesome, but it’s obviously bigger and just wider. I think the atmosphere in there is great, too. But it’s just two different feels.”

Next up for Wozniacki is a second-round challenge: 2014 US Open doubles champion Ekaterina Makarova.

Wozniacki has a perfect 7-0 record against.

And she should know Makarova is lefthanded.