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By Joe McDonald
© Natasha Peterson/Corleve

(September 4, 2010) It was the marquee match-up when the draw was created and could well be one of the most electrifying encounter of the US Open when top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki takes on 2006 US Open champion Maria Sharapova in a match between two of the most photogenic players in pro tennis.

Woz vs. Shazz, the runner vs. the ripper, adidas vs. Nike, the smile vs. the shriek. The contrasting styles and personalities should make this a compelling clash.

One is a three-time Grand Slam champion. She is statuesque model on the court, who plays the power game to deconstruct opponents. A daughter of immigrants, who keeps her ancestry close to her heart, someone who is proud to be a foreigner in a foreign county.



If she wasn’t a tennis player racing across the court, she could be walking across the cat walk in Milan or Paris.

The other was the runner-up in the 2009 US Open and is the tournament top seed seeking her first Grand Slam title. Caroline Wozniacki's mega-watt smile and perpetually positive demeanor has earned her the nickname "Sunshine" and rather than relying on pure power, she uses her quick court coverage and ability to change speed on her shots in breaking down opponents.  She is also a daughter of immigrants, but has embraced her new country as her own. If she wasn’t a tennis player, she would be a morning show personality or a weather girl.

The differences between Maria Sharapova and Caroline Wozniacki are clear cut. Yes, they may be the two most beautiful women in the tournament and when they face-off in the fourth round on Monday, it may be the true championship of this tournament, as both women are playing some of the best tennis of their careers.

Wozniacki made Yung-Jan Chan looked like a pedestrian as she cruised to a 6-1, 6-0 third-round win. A willful Wozniacki has dropped just three games in three tournament wins. She has scored shutouts in three of the six sets she's played.

"At the moment I'm feeling happy," said Wozniacki. "I'm happy to be out there.  I'm happy to play, I'm happy to be fit, and that's the most important thing.  I've really been practicing hard, and it's giving me the results I want."

Not to be outdone, Sharapova has won 12 out of 14 matches since Wimbledon. She is playing her best tennis since her shoulder injury in 2008 and maybe since she won the US Open back in 2006, dispensing Amelie Mauresmo and Justine Henin in succession. Today she ruthlessly routed American would-be Cinderella, Beatrice Capra, 6-0 6-0, almost a year to the day of getting knocked out by last year’s upstart Melanie Oudin.

"This was a new day," said Sharapova. "And what happened last year, you know, I didn't really want to go into the match thinking about it. Obviously I had lost the match and made way too many unforced errors.  On a day like today, I just wanted to make sure I was consistent and did the right thing, and, you know, maybe didn't go for the lines as much and just played smart tennis."

So now both Sharapova and Wozniacki will square off in a highly-anticipated clash of baseline blaster and quick-foot counter puncher. They have only met twice (both back in 2008) with the 23 year-old Russian holding a 2-0 edge. And this fourth rounder will be a showcase of Russian’s power versus the Dane’s speed with Wozniacki catching up to as many balls on the baseline trying to force the aggressive Sharapova to make errors.

"She can run all day and get a lot of balls back and make you hit tons of balls," Sharapova said.  "She changes the pace really well, and gets her opponents off-balance.  She does many things well, you know.  That's why she's at the top of the game."

Although Serena Williams is the No. 1 woman in the world, Wozniacki can claim that title if she wins the US Open. The 20 year-old will have her toughest fight of the summer against her Russian opponent, because of her mental toughness and ability to break down opponents.

"I think we're different players," Wozniacki said. "I feel like I'm maybe moving a bit better.  I don't know.  I'm placing the balls better a little bit, but she's maybe hitting the balls harder. I don't know.  You know, she has won Grand Slams; I haven't.  Yeah, I don't know.  It's tough.  I think it's up to you guys [the media] to find out what you think."

Okay Caroline, I'll take you up on that.

Prediction: Wozniacki in three.

Secondary prediction: the Wozniacki-Sharapova winner will win the US Open on the tournament's final Saturday night.