In denying Caroline Wozniacki her second match point at 6-5 in the second set, Tamira Paszek learned how she should play hers, if it ever came. The 21-year-old had essentially caught the line with a big backhand after a series of rolling and largely unthreatening Wozniacki shots. The key for Paszek was to be aggressive; she'd need to do that to win the match, and of more pressing note, to get herself in the position to win the match.
So when Paszek did arrive at her first match point, at 5-4 in the third set with Wozniacki serving, she did what she did before: She went for it. A roundhouse forehand painted the corner, ending a three-hour and 12-minute match and the Dane's Wimbledon experience after one round. The final score read 5-7, 7-6 (4), 6-4.
Plenty of people will take notice of Paszek because of her accomplishment, but also because, for a great while, this was the only match going at the All England Club; rain halted play on all other courts. It only added more pressure to Wozniacki, the seventh seed and recently deposed No. 1, who saved four set points in the first set—which was continued from yesterday—to seemingly deflate her opponent.
When Paszek didn't do that, Wozniacki replied with a diet of consistently good tennis—she made just five unforced errors in the second set—and an assertive series of service games, offering the Austrian just two break points in set two. Unfortunately for Wozniacki, Paszek broke both times, and while Wozniacki also broke twice, she had 12 break chances in total. She let Paszek off the hook (Wozniacki once led 3-1), which could also be said for her second match point. On the first, Wozniacki moved Paszek with well-angled shots, but the underdog was in the right place to deflect a winner into the open court.
Having walked the tightrope twice, Paszek loosened up—a danger considering her obvious talent. Paszek takes big, windy cuts on the ball from both sides and had power to spare against Wozniacki, who watched her opponent clock 54 winners. She grew in confidence and showed that with visible but measured emotion, a delight to the Centre Court crowd that grew to appreciate this match as it progressed.
Paszek's play was strong enough to earn her a shot to serve for the match at 5-3, and when she lobbed a demoralized Wozniacki at net, the match seemed all but over. But like Paszek in the second set, Wozniacki didn't cave, striking two beautiful backhand winners to help construct a break she had to have. Problem was, she was still behind, and she was still facing an opponent with essentially nothing to lose. So maybe it was no surprise to see Paszek go for a big forehand when presented with match point. Or hopefully, that's her game—all-out aggression—that we'll be seeing more of in the future.
For Wozniacki, her game has been dissected to death, and I don't think she played as bad a match as some people have said—she was one point from a straight-sets victory, after all. But a first-round stumble can't be sugar-coated, and once again, it's disappointment for Wozniacki it what has been a very disappointing season.
—Ed McGrogan