Soon-to-be-retired Caroline Wozniacki believes she wouldn’t have been able to achieve the career she had without the support of her father.
The former world No.1 hailed Piotr Wozniacki following her latest win at the Australian Open. Unseeded in the tournament, she knocked out Ukrainian rising star Dayana Yastremska 7-5, 7-5, during what was a roller coaster encounter. In both sets the Dane went done a double break before battling back to edge out the 23rd seed. Trailing 1-5 in the opener and then 0-3 in the second.
“I was trying to think what to do out there to change that and she started making a few more unforced errors. I got a little more depth on the ball and I started serving a little bit better.” Wozniacki commented on her comeback.
“All of a sudden I kept getting one point after another and started getting the belief that I could get that set.”
In the end it was the greater consistency that saw Wozniacki over the finish line. During the match she hit 15 winners and unforced errors. Compares to big-hitting Yastremska’s more erratic tally of 36 and 47.
The win extends Wozniacki’s career on the tour for at least another match. She will retire from the sport following the conclusion of her campaign in Melbourne at the age of 29. It was at the Australian Open where Wozniacki won her first and only grand slam title back in 2018.
Looking back on her career, she pinpoints the guidance of her coach and father as one of the key factors behind her success over the years. Her milestones include winning 30 WTA titles and spending 71 weeks as world No.1. As of this week, Wozniacki is one of only five player in history to have made more than $35 million in prize money on the WTA Tour.
“I think sticking with my dad and that partnership has made me the player that I am today.” She told reporters in Melbourne.
“I definitely wouldn’t have been where I am today if it wasn’t for him because the trust that was there between us and just the journey I think was amazing.”
Regardless of her pending retirement, the Dane is very much living in the moment at the Australian Open. Relishing the support she is receiving from the crowd. In the third round she will play Tunisia’s One Jabeur. A player who had not won a main draw match at the tournament until this year.
“It feels great. The crowd is really supporting me out there and standing behind me and it’s amazing.” Wozniacki said.
“It’s a tournament where I have always had crowd support, so it just feels even more special because it’s even more now.’
“I feel just lucky to be out there and, you know, still playing on a high level.”
Despite being a former champion, Wozniacki had only reached the fourth round of the tournament once since 2014.
