Caroline Wozniacki survived three rain delays to book her spot in the WTA Toronto tournament semi-final with a marathon 7-5, 6-7 (3/7), 6-4 victory over world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova on Friday.
The sixth seeded Wozniacki posted her first career win over a number-one player in seven tries as she blasted eight aces in the two-hour, 56-minute centre court match.
She next faces American Sloane Stephens, who saved three match points in the third set to oust Lucie Safarova 6-2, 1-6, 7-5 in their quarter-final.
Pliskova fired five aces but won just 45 percent of her second-serve points.
“I thought she started off really strongly and she was attacking and playing really, really well,” Wozniacki said.
“After that, I feel like I stepped a little bit closer to the line just to try and take away a little bit of time. I once I kind of got on a roll, I started serving better.
“I just tried to stay steady, tried to take the ball on the rise and try to stay aggressive when I could and keep my serves aggressive too.” Wozniacki’s record against number ones included five losses to Serena Williams and one to Dinara Safina.
“I don’t really think about too much,” Wozniacki said, speaking of her feat in defeating a top seed. “I knew I was going to play someone that was really tough today, and I’m just happy with my win.”
Pliskova started quickly by winning five of the first six games of the first set which was delayed at the start by rain.
Wozniacki then started to assert herself on defence and offence, moving Pliskova around the court to win six straight games to take the first set.