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Kuznetsova upsets No. 10 Wozniacki at Australian Open

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No. 10 Caroline Wozniacki was aiming for her third straight Aussie Open quarterfinal.

No. 10 Caroline Wozniacki was aiming for her third straight Aussie Open quarterfinal.

After twice failing to win her breakthrough major as the No. 1-ranked woman at the Australian Open, Caroline Wozniacki is now expected to drop out of the top 10 after a fourth-round loss to a resurgent Svetlana Kuznetsova on Monday.

Wozniacki had the top ranking for the 2011 and 2012 editions of the season's first major, but lost in semifinals two years ago and the quarterfinals last year. Her 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 defeat to two-time Grand Slam winner Kuznetsova in the Round of 16 this time follows back-to-back first-round exits at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.

Kuznetsova is moving in the other direction, after entering the tournament at No. 75. She's on a comeback from a right knee injury that ruled her out of the last U.S. Open, ending a run of contesting 40 consecutive majors.

The 27-year-old Russian moved into a quarterfinal and will next face No. 1-ranked Victoria Azarenka.

"The time I played in Indian Wells was totally a disaster. I got (beaten) very badly," she said. "But, I mean, she's tough; she's No. 1; I have nothing to lose; she has all the pressure.

"I know I got the game to give her some problems, and I will just do my best and just try to enjoy it."