Wozniacki, Cetkovska advance to WTA final

Three-time defending champion and world no.1 Caroline Wozniacki won her 16th match in a row over four years at the WTA New Haven Open late Friday to reach the final of the US Open tune-up.

The Dane defeated Italian third seed Francesca Schiavone 7-6, 6-3, to sustain her win streak and receive a kiss on the court afterwards from her boyfriend, reigning US Open golf champion Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland.

Awaiting Wozniacki in the final will be Czech qualifier Petra Cetkovska, who upset French Open champion Li Na, of China, 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 in the other semi-final to reach her first WTA champion-ship match.

Wozniacki played the second set with her right thigh taped but said it was only a minor muscle strain and would not hinder her in the final or the US Open.

“I did it for protection because I started feeling it a little bit in my groin,” Wozniacki said.

“I just wanted to wrap it up and make sure it didn’t get worse.”

Wozniacki, still seeking her first Grand Slam title as the year’s final Slam tournament looms starting tomorrow in New York, trailed 4-2 in the first set but rallied to dominate the tie-breaker and advance.

McIlroy wore a Yale University gridiron jersey in tribute to the school which hosts the tournament. He joined the Yale team in celebrating the victory on the court with Wozniacki, although only McIlroy received a kiss.

Yale players have attended Wozniacki’s matches ever since she spoke at a 2009 practice.