The ankle injury Caroline Wozniacki sustained in the semifinals of the Family Circle Cup two weeks ago is still hampering the Dane’s movement and she lost to Lucie Safarova 6-4 6-4 in the second round of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart.
The 38th-ranked Safarova sensed that her opponent had troubles with movement and forced that part of her game. The top-seeded Wozniacki didn’t have a single chance to break Safarova’s serve, while the Czech won the match thanks to one break in each set.
It was the first encounter of Safarova and Wozniacki. The 23-year-old Safarova earned her fifth career win over a Top 5 player by defeating the world No.2 Wozniacki (her first four all came in 2007). (photo: © Neal Trousdale)
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Saw this on a forum;
Woz only entered this tourney so she wouldnt get a ban later on, the rules are that if she didnt turn up here she will be banned from the E-BOKS tourney in Denmark, E-BOKS= her main sponsor.
She is injured and would never have played otherwise.
Don’t know if thats true but if it is then its absolutely ridiculous that someone should have to play through an injury or be banned from another Tournament!
Tony, thank you for sharing this. Well, it doesn’t surprise me because many players enter tournaments just because they have to, even when injured.
That is pretty tough, that sponsor is ruthless!
This is what Caroline wrote on her Twitter page April 30th, “My ankle was not 100 percent but had to play”. It sounds that she was forced to play. My question is why didn’t she retire? Would she had faced sanctions if she did? I remember the controversy the last time she retire, but her injury this time it is very obvious.
Tony,thanks for informing us. Awful to hear that. I am shocked.
Carlos, then we’re certain she was indirectly forced to play. Why didn’t she retire? It’s probably like going to work sick, when you’re there you want sleep on the table but actually do something, even if you were forced to come.