Top-Seeded Wozniacki Is Out, Too

Mob rule continued in the women’s tournament at the French Open on Friday as Caroline Wozniacki, the world’s No. 1 player, was upset in the third round, 6-1, 6-3, by Daniela Hantuchova.

The lopsided defeat will only increase debate about Wozniacki’s worthiness for the top spot, and it came a day after Kim Clijsters, her closest pursuer in the rankings, was eliminated in the second round after inexplicably losing her way against Arantxa Rus, the world’s 114th-ranked player.

“Since we’re No. 1 and No. 2, it means we must be doing something right; it’s just unfortunate to lose in a Grand Slam,” Wozniacki said.

Earlier Friday, the No. 8 seed, Samantha Stosur, a big-hitting Australian who reached the final here last year, also lost, to Gisela Dulko of Argentina.

This is the first time since the Open era began in 1968 that the Nos. 1 and 2 women’s seeds have failed to reach the Round of 16 at a Grand Slam, and the tournament could very easily have been without the No. 3 seed, too.

Vera Zvonareva, seeded third, had to save a match point and overcome a 2-5 deficit before defeating Sabine Lisicki of Germany on Wednesday. For now, the only member of the top four who has not struggled here is fourth-seeded Victoria Azarenka, who despite injuring her elbow earlier this month has dropped just seven games in her first two matches.

But Azarenka’s good friend Wozniacki was nowhere near as effective against Hantuchova, a smooth-moving Slovakian veteran who was once ranked as high as No. 5 but who is seeded 28th here this year.

“She played very, very well today, better than me for sure,” said Wozniacki, 20. “She knew what she was going to go out there and do. She was just too good. I just need to get back on the court and practice and come back stronger.”

Wozniacki had not dropped a set against Hantuchova in their previous three matches, but she dropped the first in a hurry on the Suzanne Lenglen Court, the second biggest show court at Roland Garros and the scene of many major upsets over the years.

Wozniacki then fell behind, 0-4, in the second set before rallying to 3-4. But Hantuchova, often shaky under pressure, recovered and finished off the victory, with Wozniacki making unforced errors on the final two points.

Clay is not Wozniacki’s favorite surface. She grew up in Denmark playing mostly on hardcourts.

“Most of the time you would play tournaments in juniors on hardcourts, and I would train indoors on hardcourts,” she said in an interview last week. “I think my movement is better on hardcourts. There is no doubt about it, but at the same time I think it’s still great that I can improve on clay and every year I believe I can even do better.”

But her result Friday does not amount to improvement at Roland Garros. Last year she reached the quarterfinals for the first time in Paris despite playing with an injury she had sustained earlier in the clay court season. This year she could not make it to the second week.

“The No. 1 player usually has huge intangibles, but not right now,” said Pam Shriver, the commentator and former player.

Shriver pointed to Hantuchova’s ability to attack down the line and her more aggressive approach as the differences.

“Last year at Wimbledon after being crushed by Petra Kvitova, Caroline responded well and had a great hardcourt season,” Shriver said. “She needs to respond well again or Wimbledon could be an early exit as well.”

Wozniacki , who won the title in Brussels on clay Saturday, is not alone among reigning No. 1s in recent years to be without a Grand Slam singles title. Others include Dinara Safina and Jelena Jankovic, who have yet to win one, and Clijsters and Amélie Mauresmo, who eventually did.

Wozniacki reached the 2009 United States Open final as a teenager and also reached the semifinals there in 2010 and at this year’s Australian Open. At 20, she has time on her side, but her game, built around consistency and outstanding defensive skills, can clearly lapse into defensiveness.

She had eight winners to Hantuchova’s 26 Friday, and did have a winner in the opening set.

“I don’t feel the pressure,” Wozniacki said. “The only one I feel pressure from is myself to go and give my all for every match,” she said. “I’m a competitor. I love winning. I don’t like losing and sometimes it’s like this in the game, and you cannot do anything. Right now I cannot do anything about the loss other than just get back on the practice court and improve and be better for next time.”

Posted by: Christopher Clarey

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