Author: Barkha Roy
Caroline Wozniacki, the former world number one tennis player from Denmark, has made a surprising announcement about her return to professional tennis. After retiring in 2020 to focus on her family, Wozniacki has now revealed her intention to take part in the 2023 US Open.
In an interview with Vogue, she said that during her retirement she found herself hitting the tennis ball better than ever, which motivated her to return to the sport. With a Grand Slam title under her belt, having won the 2018 Australian Open by beating Simona Halep in the final, Wozniacki is eager to add to her career achievements.
Reflecting on her decision to retire three years ago, Wozniacki expressed that she had achieved most of her goals and wanted a break to start a family. However, her passion for tennis was rekindled during a practice session last year, when she realized that she was hitting the ball exceptionally well. This revelation prompted her return to the professional tour and she has now confirmed her participation in the 2023 US Open, where she has already reached the final on two occasions, in 2009 and 2014.
Wozniacki’s excitement about New York’s electric atmosphere and her consistent performance at Flushing Meadows motivated her decision to compete at the US Open. To regain her competitive edge, the 32-year-old plans to start her journey by playing in Montreal before heading to New York. Wozniacki is also looking ahead to the Olympic Games in Paris, scheduled for July and August next year, and sees them as another important goal for her career.
During her time away from professional tennis, Wozniacki took the opportunity to spend quality time with her family and embrace motherhood. Now she wants to inspire others, especially her children, by showing that dreams can be pursued at any age or stage of life. Wozniacki’s decision to return to the sport follows the announcement of her retirement in 2019, after a challenging season marked by injuries. The Danish tennis star has had friendly rivalries with prominent sports personalities, including Serena Williams, who she partnered for the first time in women’s doubles at the 2020 Auckland Open.
Although Wozniacki reached the singles semi-finals at that tournament, she unfortunately lost in the final of the women’s doubles event. In her previous appearance at the US Open, she lost in the third round to Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur, who recently made history as the first Arab player to reach the quarter-finals at Roland Garros 2023.