Wozniacki Wins 20th Straight in New Haven

By Chris Oddo

(August 23rd, 2012) -- Caroline Wozniacki is the queen of New Haven, but Petra Kvitova is the queen of the Emirates US Open Series. Both, surely, would rather be queen of the US Open, but that’s another story for another week.

Four-time New Haven Open champion Wozniacki made short work of sixth-seeded Dominika Cibulkova today, 6-2, 6-1 to reach the semifinals. Wozniacki, despite wearing heavy strapping on her right knee, improved to 8-3 over Cibulkova, saving both break points she faced and losing only two points on her second serve all afternoon.

Wozniacki will face seventh-seeded Maria Kirilenko in the semifinals on Friday. Kirilenko, currently at a career-high ranking of No. 14, defeated Olga Govortsova of Belarus 6-1, 6-2 in their first career meeting.

On Thursday evening, Petra Kvitova clinched the Emirates US Open Series title when she defeated fellow Czech Lucie Safarova, 6-3, 6-3. Kvitova cracked 10 aces and lost only six points on her first serve to advance to her third semifinal in three weeks in North America.

“I don’t care about the money,” Kvitova said of her Emirates US Open Series prize money. “I’m just really proud I’m the champion, and glad I’ve played a lot of good matches and had good results.”

Kvitova will face Sara Errani in Friday’s semifinal. Errani defeated Marion Bartoli in the second night match 6-4, 6-2.

Vinci Double Bagels Jovanovski, Will Face Jankovic in Dallas Final

Two well-traveled veterans are getting their games together at the right time in Dallas, as Roberta Vinci and Jelena Jankovic reached the final of the Texas Tennis Open on Thursday.

Vinci notched her second double bagel in three weeks when she put the screws to Bojana Jovanovski today. The 29-year-old Italian is now 2-0 vs. the 20-year-old Serb. Vinci also double-bageled Ana Ivanovic in Montreal two weeks ago, and in Friday’s final she’ll attempt to accomplish the rare triple double-bagel of Serbs against World No. 34 Jelena Jankovic.

Jankovic defeated Australian qualifier Casey Dellacqua 7-5, 6-4 for her third victory in three attempts against the world No. 106.

Vinci is 6-1 in finals in her career, but she has lost all three matches she has played against Jankovic. Both Vinci and Jankovic are searching for their first title of 2012.

(Photo Credit: AP)