World number one Caroline Wozniacki stayed on course toward a first Grand Slam title on Thursday as she reached the third round of the US Open with a straight-sets victory over 82nd-ranked Arantxa Rus.
Wozniacki, relishing her moment under the floodlights on Arthur Ashe Stadium, needed just 63 minutes to wrap up a 6-2, 6-0 victory over the Dutch player who had shocked Kim Clijsters to reach the third round at Roland Garros. Despite a total of six breaks of serve in the opening set, Wozniacki never looked in danger of falling prey to a similar upset.
The 21-year-old Dane needed 40 minutes to pocket the first set. Then she got her serve firing and raced home to line up a clash with American Vania King for a place in the round of 16. “I really enjoy playing out there on Arthur Ashe night sessions,” Wozniacki said. “It’s a great feeling.” Wozniacki’s tennis isn’t the only thing that’s had her in the spotlight of late. Her blossoming relationship with Northern Ireland’s US Open golf champion Rory McIlroy has been a hot topic on social media websites, but Wozniacki insists that she won’t be sidetracked from her tennis goals.
“Tennis is my first priority and I’m focused on the tennis when I’m on court, that’s for sure,” she said. “What I do off the court, I know that I’m a public person, so a lot of things will be seen by the public. “But I don’t really think about it. I think we have our limits and we know where they are. So as long as we both keep the feet on the ground and we both have our careers, which are important to us, I think it’s working well.”
Even so, like many young women she has received relationship advice from her peers — in this case Serena and Venus Williams. Serena Williams admitted that she didn’t think she’d had much wisdom to offer. “It was bad advice,” Williams said. “I hope she didn’t listen.” No danger, said the independent-minded Wozniacki. “I think I should not listen to her or Venus,” Wozniacki said.
