New Haven, CT – Reigning champion Petra Kvitova and four- time New Haven titlist Caroline Wozniacki were both quarterfinal winners Thursday at the New Haven Open, a final U.S. Open tune-up.
The third-seeded Czech Kvitova fought back from a first-set misstep to overcome Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 2-6, 6-2, 7-5, on the hardcourts at the Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale University.
The former Wimbledon champion Kvitova topped Russian Maria Kirilenko in last year's New Haven finale.
The former world No. 1 and former U.S. Open runner-up Wozniacki had a much easier time in her quarterfinal match with sixth-seeded Sloane Stephens, disposing of the American wild card by a 7-6 (8-6), 6-2 margin.
Wozniacki, seeded fourth this week, captured the New Haven event four years in a row from 2008-11.
Also on Day 5, surging Romanian Simona Halep beat Russian Ekaterina Makarova, 6-1, 7-6 (8-6), while Czech Klara Zakopalova earned a hard-fought 4-6, 6-0, 6-4 triumph over 2009 New Haven runner-up Elena Vesnina.
The 21-year-old Halep, who is seeking her fourth title in seven tournaments, will take on Wozniacki in the semis, while Zakopalova will do battle with the defending champion Kvitova.
The 2013 New Haven titlist will earn $117,000.
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