She has spent the summer knocking off the powerful Russians. Although mass media loves to call her Danish with all the associations of blonde Scandinavia, Caroline Wozniacki is as Polish as they come, her dad just happened to be on a pro soccer gig in Denmark when she was born. Those of you with a working knowledge of European history know how the Russians and Soviets abused Poland for centuries, abuse that made a lot of Polish citizens yearn for the warm and fuzzy days of Nazi occupation after receiving special treatment from Joe Stalin and company. But that was then, and this is now.
Wozniacki has no inferiority complex when it comes to playing mother Russia, in fact she thrives on it, slapping around the likes of Zvonerova, Kuznetsova, Dementieva in her amazing summer run to this year's Open. It's enough to make a population of Poles stick out their chest a bit.
But with the arrival of Labor Day, Day 8 of the 2010 U.S. Open, reality looms. The queen of modern Russian players, the beautiful and deadly Maria Sharapova stands in the way of this 20 year old Pole and her dream of Grand Slam glory.
Sharapova already has two major titles, including the U.S.; she is the hottest player in the tournament, just through a double bagel bashing in the 3rd round, and she has nevedr lost to Wozniacki. Woz is now the darling of the women's tennis world, the It Girl, a status that used to belong to Sharapova and one that she desperately wants back.
It's an amazing 4th round matchup, future and former champions clashing in a crossroads match brimming with history. It's Poland vs Russia, youth vs experience, Wozniacki vs Sharapova, today, Labor Day, on the biggest stage in tennis.
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