For a newbie, it might seem strange to find out that the professional tennis has a short clay swing between the grass season and the North American hard court session. But. it's been the same for years now, and it now resides as a part of the culture. The former world no. 1 Caroline Wozniacki had a script of her own this week by competing in Bastad, Sweden at Ericsson Open, a WTA International event. She did great throughout the week, except for the final where she lost to Katerina Siniakova (56 WTA), the young Czech tennis star. For the two times US Open runner-up, it all came to nothing despite playing her fifth WTA final of 2017.
Once again, she failed to deliver when she needed the most as the 21-year-old Czech rising star surpassed her in straight sets casting not a single shadow of doubt on her win.
Wozniacki couldn't handle the youth's enthusiasm
Currently ranked sixth in the world, Caroline Wozniacki entered the Ericsson Open in Bastad as the first seeded player. She had an apparently easier route towards the higher stages filled with some low-ranked player. Even so, reaching the final was not easy at all as she was pushed three times in a third set. On the other side, Siniakova made a clear run towards her second WTA title of her career. En route to the final, she dropped only two sets despite facing Anastasija Sevastova and Caroline Garcia along the way.
Against Wozniacki, the young WTA star imposed her own rhythm to the game.
The opening set saw Wozniacki losing her serve early. A player who still relies on the morale burst, Siniakova kept her composure while being in charge of the hostilities. Eventually, the inaugural set went into her pocket with Wozniacki trailing behind.
The second set saw a brief fightback from Wozniacki who got her nose in front only to see her opponent racing past her later. As the second set went away from the Danish player, Siniakova earned another WTA title.
Wozniacki will prepare for the US Open Series
Last year, while struggling with form, injuries and lack of motivation, the 27-year-old WTA star saw her ranking plunging before the US Open.
She did a solid run at Flushing Meadows reaching the last four stages where she lost to the eventual champion Angelique Kerber. Despite the loss, the run itself was a wake-up call for the former world no. 1 and one the most prominent WTA player of the last decade.
This year was a different business as she kept her head above the water as a constant presence in the higher stages of some big WTA tournaments. It might be the right time for her to aim as big as it can get now that the US Open is a month ahead. She was a runner-up twice back in 2009 and 2014.
