Wozniacki Back into Semis, to Meet Resurgent Martic

In 2011, Caroline Wozniacki was champion for the first time at the Volvo Car Open. Petra Martic, meanwhile, lost in the first round.

Saturday they’ll meet for a place in the final as Wozniacki has surged back into the semis in Charleston for the first time since 2011 and Martic has advanced to the biggest final four of her career.

Martic, in fact, had a dismal 3-4 record for the 2019 season before arriving in Charleston. She’s now 4-0 this week.

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The No. 16 seed, 28, scored a 6-3 6-4 upset win over No. 9 seed Belinda Bencic. The Croatian was beaming after the triumph.

“It means a lot (to make the semis). I came came here confident,” she said on Tennis Channel. “I tried not to think about (the significance) when I was finishing the match out there, but I’m definitely emotional. My goal is to win a WTA tournament.”

Wozniacki, on the flip side, will be going for her 31st career title, having most famously won her long-awaited first major last year at the Australian Open. The Dane, seeded fifth, had no trouble in a 6-2 6-2 win over Maria Sakkari.

“I’m feeling healthy, which is the main thing, and now it’s just all about going out there and enjoying it,” Wozniacki said. Wozniacki will be looking to win through into her 55th career final, with a 30-24 record overall.

Martic has never won a tour-level WTA title, having had her best result by winning a 125-series event in Chicago.

Martic is here for just the second time, having lost in the first round in that 2011 appearance.

“I love this tournament,” she said. “I felt like it was a good chance to start the clay court season well and it looks like a good decision for me,” she added, smiling.