Caroline Wozniacki is one of the tennis players who will be present at the Australian Open thanks to an invitation. The Dane will return to the stage where she played her last match before retiring in 2020. Before playing the first Grand Slam of the season, the former world number 1 offered an interview in which she tells how her mentality has changed in this new stage.
His return to the Australian Open
“It’s really amazing that I have another chance to compete in Australia. When I retired in 2020, I really thought that would be my last tournament, my last match. There was a reason why I decided to retire in Australia: because it is very special for me. I feel like I have a lot of support there and it was where I won my first Grand Slam. But three years later, I realized that I still have something to contribute to the sport, my passion is still there and I feel like I’m still young enough to give it one last chance. “he confessed Caroline Wozniacki to the podcast The AO Show.
Between being a mother and coping with chronic rheumatoid arthritis
“Having to learn to take baby steps and come back and not rush was for me, mentally, a little difficult because I’ve always been the person who says ‘let’s go, let’s go, let’s go,’ at a thousand miles an hour all the time. At the same time, I think I also appreciate my body and what it’s been able to do and how strong it is. I chose to build some strength in some places that were lacking in my body and get myself into probably the best shape I’ve ever been in my entire life. I didn’t know where it was going to be and what was possible. “I feel very proud to feel so good physically and so strong.”
About her match against Coco Gauff at the US Open and her confidence for 2024
“I felt like I was close to winning that match, but I still missed a couple things. I felt, in my game and physically, where I was. I know where I need to go, where I am, where I need and want to be to be able to beat the best players in the world consistently, and I think it’s very encouraging that I wasn’t too far away.
I feel very confident going into this new season having played those three tournaments before and knowing that my game is excellent. Now physically I just need to improve a little more.”
A return that I did not expect at all
“I needed a break after playing for so many years and I didn’t miss hitting balls at all. And all of a sudden I think, ‘Wow, I miss hitting a ball clean, hitting it in the middle of the racket.’ Let’s go out, let’s sweat, let’s find the It was a completely different mentality and I think that’s also why I felt like I was hitting the ball better than ever, because there was no pressure, there was no reason to stress about anything.”
A change of perspective
“I’m very lucky to be able to play what I love and what I’m pretty good at. It just gives me the freedom to know: ‘OK, I don’t know how much time I have left to play, but when I’m there I’m going to give it my all.’ If someone is going to beat me, then congratulations, you were better than me that day and I’m going to go home and work harder. “I think having that great balance in my life has really contributed to the fact that I feel like I’m playing amazing tennis and a lot more free.”
2023-12-10 18:36:59
#young #give #chance
