Trump card: Wozniacki advances to US Open semis with windblown win

Wozniacki trumps Cibulkova with The Donald on hand

NEW YORK — Clearly, Caroline Wozniacki has learned one thing about making it big in the Big Apple: When The Donald asks for something, best to say yes.

The top-seeded player at the U.S. Open advanced to the semifinals Wednesday night with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Dominika Cibulkova, a match Donald Trump watched from Wozniacki’s player-guest box instead of his usual suite.

“He called my agent and asked if there was going to be a space in my box,” Wozniacki said. “I said, ‘Of course, there’s always a place for Mr. Trump.’”

Wind gusted up to 34 mph and played havoc with Wozniacki’s shots — to say nothing of Trump’s hair.

A messy, mussy night that included 43 unforced errors by the loser, which plays right into Wozniacki’s way of winning. She gets more balls back than anyone on tour these days. Her first five opponents have averaged 33 unforced errors.

“It felt like we were playing in a hurricane or something,” Wozniacki said. “But it was the same for both players. I’m happy to get through.”

Midway through the second set, the generally unflappable Wozniacki got into an extended discussion with chair umpire Anthony Nimmons over a ruling that a point should be replayed. Cibulkova served and Wozniacki’s return landed near the baseline; Cibulkova’s subsequent forehand went out. But a line judge had called Wozniacki’s return out, then corrected that call.

Nimmons decided that that changed call affected Cibulkova.

Wozniacki approached the chair and asked, “How can you replay the point?”

Nimmons replied, “In my eyes, she was hindered by him.”

To which Wozniacki responded, “You’ve got to be kidding me,” a phrase she would repeat as the argument continued.

Eventually, the point was replayed, and Cibulkova won it, and that game, part of a tight, tense set.

Her semifinal match is Friday against No. 7 Vera Zvonareva, a 6-3, 7-5 winner over No. 31 Kaia Kanepi.