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By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, March 27, 2017

 
Caroline Wozniacki

Caroline Wozniacki will face Lucie Safarova in the Miami Open quarterfinals.

Photo credit: Miami Open

Caroline Wozniacki continued her quarterfinal roll into the Miami Open last eight.

The 12th-seeded Wozniacki held a one-set lead over Garbine Muguruza, 7-6 (1), when the reigning Roland Garros retired due to illness and dizziness.

Watch: Miami Open Live Blog

Wozniacki has dropped just 15 games en route to her fourth consecutive quarterfinal.




The former world No. 1 withstood a French Open champion today and will face a French Open finalist for a spot in the final four when she faces Lucie Safarova next.

The 36th-ranked Safarova smacked nine aces against eight double faults defeating fourth-seeded Dominika Cibulkova, 7-6(5), 6-1.




Wozniacki has won four of seven meetings with Safarova. The left-handed Czech prevailed in their most recent hard-court encounter at the 2014 Sydney.

Muguruza had won three of four prior meetings with Wozniacki, including both of their Grand Slam meetings. Signs of an impending grind were evident as the pair traded breaks to open.

Wozniacki stamped a love hold in the third game. Muguruza burst to a 40-love lead, but missed a routine forehand.

That transgression cost the Spaniard severely. Wozniacki won nine of the next 10 points, breaking with a forceful forehand then holding at 15 for 4-1.

The Roland Garros champion summoned coach Sam Sumyk greeting him with an inquiry: “Why did I lose those two games?”

“You’re doing nothing wrong here you just gotta make shots,” Sumyk said. “We play the ball, not Wozniacki… Refocus, keep the game plan because it’s there it’s obviously there, we just gotta make those shots.”

That advice seemed to soothe Muguruza, who held for 4-2.

Blowing on her hand between points, Muguruza showed spirit pasting the baseline for a fourth break point. Wozniacki whacked a shot into net dropping serve and ending a 10-minute game.

Muguruza served for the set at 5-4, but could not close as Wozniacki stretched the court with wide strikes.




Serving to extend the set at 5-6, Muguruza saved set point when Wozniacki sent her best shot, the backhand, into net. Sliding an ace out wide, Muruguza drove a forehand down the line to force the tie break after 64 minutes.

That was Muguruza’s last stand. She hit her fifth double fault to donate the mini break. Wozniacki, who served 70 percent, backed up a forehand winner with her second ace for 4-0. A Muguruza double fault gave the former US Open finalist a handful of set points.




She only needed one closing the set on a Muguruza error. Muguruza summoned the trainer, but could not continue, shaking hands after 75 minutes.

 

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