Danish Caroline Wozniacki during her victory in the first round of the US Open against Russian Tatiana Prozorova, Monday August 28, 2023. COREY SIPKIN / AFP
In Denmark, the deal is quite simple when looking for a local tennis champion. Winner of the Paris-Bercy Masters 1000 in 2022 and 4th in the world, the young Holger Rune (20 years old) is attracting attention. His surprise defeat, Monday August 28, in the first round of the US Open against the Spaniard Roberto Carballés Baena (63rd), should therefore have sounded the death knell for Danish hopes in the last Grand Slam of the year. But for a few weeks, another star of the kingdom has returned to the front of the stage: Caroline Wozniacki.
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At 33, the Dane made her return to the circuit this summer. However, she seemed to be definitely done with tennis rackets in early 2020, when she announced “close the first extraordinary chapter of [sa] vie ». The ex-world number 1 finally decided to reopen the book three and a half years later. She even offers herself a shock against the Czech Petra Kvitova (11th in the world), on the night of Wednesday to Thursday, in the second round of the US Open.
In recent years, Caroline Wozniacki has traveled a lot. Above all, she gave birth to two children. “I was able to make up for lost time with my family but there are still goals that I want to achieve. I want to show my kids that you can chase your dreams, no matter your age or role.”she explained, in June, in a message on X (formerly Twitter), announcing the start of her “second career”.
Two tournaments later, here she is in New York, where she unceremoniously dismissed Russian qualifier Tatiana Prozorova (227th) in the first round (6-3, 6-2). The Scandinavian likes the United States, and not only because she is married to the American David Lee, a former basketball player. Caroline Wozniacki has often performed at the US Open, reaching the final twice (in 2009 and 2014).
These two digested failures, the Dane finally won the major title that was missing from her list in 2018, at the Australian Open. The opportunity to finally legitimize a world number one spot won for the first time at 20 years old. “I’m no longer going to be asked the question ‘when are you going to win a Grand Slam?’ This is the most positive thing! »quipped the player just after lifting the trophy in Melbourne.
Find the ranking in line with ambitions
Known for her defense on the court and her regularity in the exchange, Wozniacki finds a circuit that has changed a lot in her absence. The American star Serena Williams retired last year and gave way to a new generation embodied by the Polish Iga Swiatek, current world number 1, and her runner-up the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka.
Caroline Wozniacki is in any case confident. “Can I win the US Open? I think so “she said in June to the magazine Vogue US. The Dane can refer to some convincing examples of players who have returned to the top level after pregnancies, like Serena Williams or the Belarusian Victoria Azarenka. The Scandinavian was surely also marked by the return to competition of Kim Clijsters in 2009. A few days after coming out of a two-year break to become a mother, the Belgian went to the end of the US Open by disposing in the final of … Caroline Wozniacki.
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For the latter, the challenge will now be to find a ranking in line with its ambitions even if it benefits for the moment from invitations, as at the US Open. She will also have to reconcile this return to the field with rheumatoid arthritis, an inflammatory disease attacking the joints, from which the Dane has suffered since 2018.
His young compatriot Holger Rune sees in any case “a great source of inspiration” in Wozniacki, he who affirmed in mid-August at Tennis Majors what “It was crazy to see a Danish player win a Grand Slam tournament in an incredible match”adding that “His backhand and his fighting spirit are his two greatest qualities”.
The two biggest Danish tennis stars shared training at the end of July in Monaco. This may not be the last time they are on a pitch at the same time. Holger Rune indeed declared at the beginning of the month that it would be ” really cool ” to play mixed doubles at the Paris Olympics with her eldest. That’s good, “The Paris Olympics are a goal” pour Wozniacki.
