Wozniacki: “Australia is something very special for me”
Thanks to a wildcard, the Danish Caroline Wozniacki will start in the main draw of the Australian Open 2024. The former world number one appeared on the podcast “The AO Show” full of anticipation and explained her special relationship with the country Australia and her newfound strength on the pitch.
by Dietmar Kaspar
last edit:
Dec 10, 2023, 08:08 pm
After her comeback at the US tournaments, where Caroline Wozniacki played a total of three tournaments including the US Open and had a record of four wins and three defeats, the 33-year-old took a break for the rest of the season. Time which she used extensively to prepare for her return to the country, which will always remain closely linked to her career. After all, the Dane achieved her only success at a major to date in Australia in 2018, and she also played her last match there in 2020 before her long maternity break, during which she gave birth to two children.
After her defeat in the third round against Ons Jabeur, she didn't believe in returning to the 'Happy Slam': “It's really amazing that I get the chance to play in Australia again. When I retired in 2020, I really thought that this would be my last tournament, my last game."
Even outside of sport, Wozniacki, who was born in Odense, was always drawn Down Under: “I decided to retire in Australia because this country is something very special for me. I feel so supported there because I won my first Grand Slam there.” However, she soon realized that the hunger for the competition was not yet satisfied: “Three years later, I realized that I still had something to give to the sport “I knew that my passion was still there and that I was still young enough to try my luck one last time.”
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Wozniacki sees a big advantage in the experiences of her comeback last season and in the right balance in her life: “I am going into the new season very confident and relaxed because I have already played these three tournaments and know that my game is excellent and that I just need to physically speed up a bit. If someone beats me, congratulations - you were better than me that day and I'll go home and work harder. I think the balance in my life has helped me feel like I can play fantastic tennis and be a lot more free.”