Caroline came into the match with a hamstring injury, but has played doggedly well so far against Jelena Jankovic and Victoria Azarenka. She should have faced Dinara Safina, no.2 seed, but a back injury ended her challenge yesterday. In the beginning, it looked as if the replacement player Zvonareva would offer little more than hitting practice- the hobbling Dane took the 1st set 6-0. But NO! The Russian came back in the 2nd, 7-5, which dragged us into a long match and the sight of an increasingly weakened and cramp stricken Wozniaki.
As the 3rd set rolled on, Wozniaki was in the lead but stretching manically at every opportunity. Uh oh. You just hoped Wozniaki could see the game out: she's been the more aggressive and focused of the two, but for a little complacency in the 2nd set. And with the 5th game already in play, there would be little choice but to grin and bear the pain or retire from it, so close to a win. On 30-30, that's exactly what happened: after hitting a forehand into the net, a spasm of cramp seemed to strike both legs, and the poor thing fell down unable to move. It was the most uncomfortable thing I've watched in sport, as she lay contorting in pain, all the while knowing the 20 second clock was ticking down in which she'd somehow have to get up and play. Cramp is no joke.
I titled this post 'bravery' because it takes true fighting spirit to plug away as she has in this tournament, and that belief became fact with her incredible effort to go on to win the match. Caroline is usually very good humoured on and off-court, but this show of resilience and will to win in any condition, really marks her mental strength as head and shoulders above most of the WTA players. I'm guessing, future no.1.
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