Caroline Wozniacki denied the world number one ranking was proving a burden after she made a strong start to her US Open campaign.
World number one loses just four games to Spanish foe
Caroline Wozniacki denied the world number one ranking was proving a burden after she made a strong start to her US Open campaign on Tuesday.
The Dane opened with a 6-3 6-1 victory over Nuria Llagostera Vives at Flushing Meadows and then faced all-too-familiar questions from reporters about her number-one status.
Despite her position on top of the WTA rankings, Wozniacki's status has been called into question due to the fact she has yet to win a Grand Slam title.
The nearest she has come was in New York two years when she reached the final only to lose to Kim Clijsters. She has failed to get past the fourth round at the last two slams.
Asked if the position was a burden rather than an honour, Wozniacki said: "It's definitely an honour. It's a dream for me to be there.
"I'm trying to stay up there as long as possible, and doesn't really matter what people are saying. No-one can ever take that away from me. I'm number one in the world. I have been there for 46 weeks. So, I mean, that's a great achievement."
The 21-year-old also hit back at suggestions her defensive style needed more aggression to win at the highest level.
"They can say what they want," she added. "I'm the type of player I am. I've won a lot of tournaments. I'm number one in the world, and of course I can still improve.
"There are a lot of things to my game I can still improve, but everyone can. You know, I'm on the right track. I just go out there and I play the way I do, and, you know, hopefully that's good enough."
Wozniacki put some shaky form behind her by winning in New Haven last week and she continued where she had left off in Connecticut when she set foot on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Tough
The first set was reasonably tight, with the Dane gaining the only break in the fourth game, but she upped the tempo in the second to clinch victory in an hour and 20 minutes.
After Llagostera Vives held her serve in the opening game of the second, Wozniacki reeled off six in a row, looking confident on her groundstrokes and proving far too strong for her Spanish opponent.
Wozniacki will look to continue such form as she bids for that elusive major title - one which she hopes will help her keep up with boyfriend Rory McIlroy.
"I'm definitely trying to keep up," she said when quizzed about her friendship with the US Open golf champion.
"I'll definitely do my best, but I still have six tough matches to go, so it will not be easy. He has something I'm looking for and I have something he's looking for. He wants to be number one. So it's good to have something on each other."
Wozniacki also revealed she had consulted Martina Navratilova about a coaching arrangement, and it is something she may yet still pursue.
"I was thinking about it at one point and we talked and everything, but there were a few things that didn't work out, and as well on the scheduling,'' she added. "But maybe in the future.''
Another former finalist at Flushing Meadows, Jelena Jankovic, had an even easier time of it.
The Serb, seeded 11th this year, outclassed American youngster Alison Riske 6-2 6-0.
Jankovic did not have to face a single break point as she raced to victory in just 58 minutes.
Like Jankovic, 10th seed Andrea Petkovic is a player who may fancy her chances as something of a dark horse at this year's tournament and she also got her campaign off to a flying start.
The German, a quarter-finalist at the Australian and French Opens this season, beat Ekaterina Bychkova 6-2 6-2
