After a near-perfect start to 2018 with a runner-up finish in Auckland and her first career Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, Caroline Wozniacki soon after reached the top spot in the rankings. By the time the Miami Open came around, she was back at No. 2, looking to go a step further than she did at the tournament in 2017, when she reached the final.

After a first-round bye, the Dane faced 2016 Olympic Gold Medalist Monica Puig in her opening match. Puig, who defeated Samantha Stosur in the first round, came into the match with a 1-3 record against Wozniacki.

Having gone without a title since the Australian Open, Wozniacki came out for this match like a player on a mission, as she stormed through the opening set 6-0. Puig, based in Miami, turned things around in the second set, taking it 6-4, to level the match.

By that point, all of the momentum was with the Puerto Rican as she shot out to a 4-1 lead in the decider. Wozniacki managed to get one of the breaks back, but Puig held firm at the end to close out the match with a 6-4 clincher, much to the delight of the crowd.

Advertising

According to Wozniacki, the fans went too far. In the end, however, Puig was left with her biggest win in terms of rankings since her Olympics medal match victory over world No. 2 Angelique Kerber, and would eventually reach the round of 16 at her “home” event.

Follow Van on Twitter: @Van_Sias