By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, July 4, 2018
Ekaterina Makarova blew a 5-1 third-set lead, but recovered to subdue second-seeded Caroline Wozniacki, 6-4, 1-6, 7-5.
Photo credit: Rob Newell/CameraSport
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Reigning Wimbledon doubles champion Ekaterina Makarova withstood a rollercoaster ride of a final set squandering a 5-1 third-set lead before regaining control stunning second-seeded Caroline Wozniacki, 6-4, 1-6, 7-5, to surge into the third round for the fourth time.
"I think I did everything I could," a glum Wozniacki said afterward. "I fought as hard as I could. I can't even be mad at myself because I played up to the level that I can. I think she played above her level and really raised it and got a little lucky and played well when she needed to."
This was a tense thriller with Makarova blowing a 5-3, triple-match point lead when she served for the third round.
The 30-year-old Russian recovered from a nervous collapse, regained control and rifled aggressive shots to snatch the final two games posting her 15th career victory over a Top 5-ranked opponent.
Makarova will play Lucie Safarova in a clash of left-handed Grand Slam doubles champions. Safarova slid nine aces in a 7-5, 6-4, victory over former Wimbledon finalist Agnieszka Radwanska.
The 35th-ranked Makarova outlasted Wozniacki for the second time in a Grand Slam—following her 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-1 victory in the 2017 US Open second round—and denied the Dane her quest to surpass Simona Halep for the world No. 1 ranking.
While Wozniacki, who requested insect repellent during the match, wasn't exactly bugging out afterward she didn't make a graceful Grand Slam exit either.
The woman nicknamed "Sunshine" took some bitter parting shots remarking Makarova hit "a lot of crazy shots" and predicting the former Australian Open and US Open semifinalist won't go far.
"I lost today. It's obviously not the way I wanted the day to go," Wozniacki said. "I played someone who, you know, went all in with every single shot. In the second set, I think that showed to me that that was in my head, how I wanted it to go.
"Then she started again hitting a lot of lines, a lot of crazy shots that were going in. She was playing well. At that point, what can you do? You just have to keep fighting, wait for your opportunity. I fought all I had. I just lacked just a little bit today."
Top seeds are truly endangered species in this Wimbledon field.
The No. 2-seeded Wozniacki is the fifth of the top eight seeds to fall by the second round.
The Australian Open champion joined US Open champion Sloane Stephens, the fourth seed, fifth-seeded Elina Svitolina, sixth-seeded Caroline Garcia and No. 8-seeded Petra Kvitova in bowing out.
Reinforcing her reputation as a major giant killer, Makarova knocked off a Grand Slam champion for the second year in a row.
Makarova denied 14 of 16 break points, including seven break points in the final game, crushing Angelique Kerber, 6-2, 6-2, on opening day of the 2017 Roland Garros. It was a seismic upset: Kerber became the first top-seeded woman to fall in the French Open first round in Open Era history.
Wozniacki appeared equipped to fend off an upset bid today.
Empowered by her run to the Eastbourne title—and the fact she'd beaten Makarova in seven of their prior eight meetings—Wozniacki bounced back to turn this match into a fierce fight.
Wozniacki served 71 percent and won 13 of 15 first-serve points cruising through the second set to force a decider.
That's when the left-hander began stepping inside the baseline dictating play with her flat drives and sometimes following them forward to finish. Makarova won eight of 12 trips to net in the final set storming out to a 5-1 lead.
Serving for the third round at 5-3, 40-love, Makarova held triple-match point, but tightened up. Wozniacki ran down a drop shot and shoveled a cross-court winner on the first match point and a jittery Makarova double-faulted into the tape on her third match point.
Lining up a running forehand, the Russian sent a flat strike into the top of the tape on her fourth match point. Trying to settle her nerves, the world No. 1 doubles player badly bungled a volley then clanked a double fault to donate the break.
Wozniacki's fiancee, David Lee, leaped from his seat in response.
The 2006 Wimbledon girls' champion looked revitalized smacking an ace to cap a love hold for 5-all.
Undaunted by her free fall, a stubborn Makarova stepped up with aggression to complete the upset. Makarova's courage in stepping inside the baseline and thumping her groundstrokes helped her get across the finish line.
Jolting her two-hander down the line, Makarova held for 6-5 then raced out to a love-40 lead earning three more match points.
Wozniacki saved a fifth match point with a serve winner, but on the sixth Makarova commanded the center of the court, cruised forward and finished a two-hour, nine-minute conquest in style.
A glum Wozniacki pondered opportunity lost, while predicting Makarova won't sustain her closing level.
"When I look at the draw, there's 90 percent of everyone else I would have played today, I feel like I would have won," Wozniacki said. "The last 10 percent I feel like I would have had a chance or a good chance.
"Sometimes it just doesn't go your way. Sometimes it just doesn't flash. Things just don't add up. Today I played someone who played extremely well. As I said, I don't know that she would be able to keep up this level for the rest of the tournament."