Tennis: Foes both hungry for title

A distressed Peng Shuai receives attention. Photo / AP

As Serena Williams eyes another slice of tennis history, Caroline Wozniacki is craving validation with a watershed US Open final triumph tomorrow morning (NZT).

While Williams is well-fancied to match the 18 grand slam titles of Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert, Wozniacki is equally desperate to rid herself of the tag of the best player yet to win a major.

Wozniacki topped the rankings for 67 weeks in 2010 and 2011 and holds the dubious record for the longest stint as world No1 without matching her standing with at least one of the four titles that matter most. Runner-up at Flushing Meadows in 2009 to Kim Clijsters, the 24-year-old Dane admits the time is nigh to finally deliver.

"It would mean so much to me. I have been close before," said Wozniacki after advancing to her second grand slam decider in dramatic scenes when Peng Shuai had to forfeit their semifinal with severe cramp and heat stroke. "It's a grand slam final. I would love to win it and have a grand slam under my belt."

Williams, though, is just as hungry to add an 18th to her collection.

"I want to win and make a little history," she said after blitzing Russian 17th seed Ekaterina Makarova 6-1 6-3 in exactly one hour.

An open-era record sixth crown in New York would also earn the 32-year-old the first women's title hat-trick since Evert won four straight during 1975-78.

And Williams is strongly favoured to do so after dominating Wozniacki 8-1 head-to-head.

But the world No1 is full of respect for her good friend and foe, especially after being pushed in three-setters last month in both Montreal and Cincinnati.

"I definitely expect another close match," Williams said. "She really knows my game well and knows how to play. She's so consistent. I think that's one of the things that makes her really tough.

Stranded on 17 majors since last year's US Open, Williams is taking nothing for granted after crashing out before the quarter-finals at the season's first three grand slams.

But she let slip that a last-16 exit in Melbourne, second-round defeat in Paris and a third-round loss at Wimbledon were also fuelling her motivation.

"There's always - what is the word - sceptics? I don't know," the American said. "People might not believe [but] I worked really hard for Wimbledon. I was really disappointed and sad and shocked that I wasn't able to win. I worked hours, more than I worked before. Maybe it's just paying off now."

Despite her galling one-from-nine record against Williams, a more aggressive Wozniacki is confident she now has the game to upstage the top seed.

"I definitely believe that, no matter who stands on the other side of the net, I can win the match," Wozniacki said after booking her date with destiny when Peng retired while trailing 7-6 (7-1) 4-3.

"Either way, it's been a great tournament for me and I hope that I can get one more win under my belt."

- AAP