Caroline’s Wozniacki participation in this year’s US Open could be her last after her father revealed that she in the process of setting out her retirement plans.
The unexpected comments from Piotr Wozniacki comes as his daughter enjoys a run to her first grand slam quarter-final since 2014. It is the first time that the Dane has won four consecutive matches in a tournament since February 2015.
“I do not know if Caroline will only play the rest of the season or if she will play another one. We have not taken any final decision.” He told Danish tabloid Ekstrabladet on Monday. “But as I understand her, it will not be a long career.”
This year has been one of the most difficult in Wozniacki’s career. An ankle injury forced her to miss the entire clay court season for the first time in her career and she recently slipped to 74th in the world, her lowest position since September 2007.
According to Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet, both Wozniacki and her father will make a joint decision. One other media source to bt.dk has even gone as far as suggesting that a decision has already been made, which is why she is playing so freely in the US Open. This source has not been verified.
“We’ve talked about those things. We’re both adults. When we take the decision, then it is the right decision.” Piotr Wozniacki said.
Reaction to the news has been met with little surprise by many leading tennis figures in Wozniacki’s home country. Former world No.101 and now tennis commentator, Michael Tauson, believes that a retirement at the end of next year isn’t unrealistic.
“She always said that she would stop early.” Tusan said. “ I do not think it’s unrealistic that it would happen in a year. If she does it well in the future, I do not think she will stop after this season. But she can then easily stop next year. That’s not completely unrealistic”
Another Danish official to back Tauson’s theory is Peter Bastiansen, who was an instrumental figure in Denmark’s Davis Cup team throughout the 1980s.
“”It doesn’t surprise to me. I have long said that she would not have a long career. She is a player that uses a lot of effort to win a fight. The wear on the body, means that she can not keep to tennis at the same age level as Serena Williams.” He said.
Wozniacki is only 26-years-old and reached world No.1 in 2010. So far in her career, she has claimed 23 WTA titles, but is yet to win a grand slam. There are yet to be any comments from Wozniacki regarding her father’s comments.
