Caroline Wozniacki Upset By American Wild Card Christina McHale

CINCINNATI -- Embattled WTA No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki suffered her third straight loss and second straight straight-set defeat in her first match at a tournament, defeated by American wild card Christina McHale in 6-4, 7-5 on the Grandstand court.

Wozniacki, who received a bye into the second round because of her ranking, also lost her first match last week in Toronto, falling to Italian Roberta Vinci by the same score, 6-4, 7-5.

Wozniacki has only won one of her last five matches, a first round win at a post-Wimbledon clay court tournament in Bastad (during which Alize Cornet’s cell phone rang on match point).

Wozniacki managed to play most of the match on her own terms, extending rallies with high, looping forehands. But McHale’s consistent ability to generate pace and lack of indecision made the difference for the 19-year-old from New Jersey, who served out the match for the biggest win of her career.

Rory McIlroy, who is here in Cincinnati with Wozniacki, watched the match from behind the baseline, sitting near Caroline’s coach and father Piotr Wozniacki.

After the match, a tearful Caroline Wozniacki was comforted by Serena Williams, whom Wozniacki later called “one of the sweetest girls on the tour.”

Wozniacki generally remained unrattled and somewhat defiant during her presser.

SBN: Do you think there is anything that’s changed in your game? You’ve lost more matches recently than you have in the past. Is there anything in your game that’s slipped at all?

Caroline Wozniacki: It happens. You have good paths and you have some rough paths, but, you know, it’s okay. I’m going to come back and I’m going to win a lot of matches as well in the future.

...

SBN: Do you think there is anything that’s changed in your game? You’ve lost more matches recently than you have in the past. Is there anything in your game that’s slipped at all?

Caroline Wozniacki: It happens. You have good paths and you have some rough paths, but, you know, it’s okay. I’m going to come back and I’m going to win a lot of matches as well in the future.
SBN: This has been a different week for you because you’ve had all that attention around Rory McIlroy being here with you. Was that difficult for you to adjust to?
Caroline Wozniacki: No, I mean, I didn’t think about it really, to be honest.
SBN: You don’t think it changed any of your mindset or preparations this week?
Caroline Wozniacki: No.

Despite the early losses, Caroline Wozniacki’s spot atop the WTA rankings should be safe through the US Open.

Note: The upset also marks the second consecutive year (and third time in fourth years) in Cincinnati that the top seed on the women’s side was knocked out of the tournament on the Grandstand court by a player who did not receive direct entry into the tournament. In 2010, top seed Jelena Jankovic was ousted by qualifier Akgul Amanmuradova. In 2008, wild card Jamea Jackson advanced past top seed Marion Bartoli when Bartoli retired in the second set after losing the first.

Stay tuned to SB Nation’s coverage of the 2011 US Open Series at SBNation.com as well as on Twitter, @DailyForehand .