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Home / Sport / Tennis

Tennis: Caroline Wozniacki wants to be hobbit

Michael Burgess
By Michael Burgess
Senior Sports Journalist·Herald on Sunday·
9 Dec, 2017 04:00 PM3 mins to read

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Caroline Wozniacki is eyeing a trip to Hobbiton. Photo / photosport.nz

Caroline Wozniacki is eyeing a trip to Hobbiton. Photo / photosport.nz

Caroline Wozniacki has made an unusual request to ASB Classic organisers, ahead of next year's tournament.

The Danish star, who is coming off a remarkable year where she rocketed up to world No3, will be one of the main attractions at the Auckland event.

She is becoming a regular — having played the tournament on four previous occasions — and has also managed to do some sightseeing around the isthmus, including visiting Great Barrier and Waiheke Island.

But in 2018 she wants to spread her wings, which could see one of the most recognisable sportswomen in the world making a side trip to Matamata.

Wozniacki, who lists the Lord of the Rings trilogy as among her favourite movies, wants to visit Hobbiton.

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"I love Auckland," Wozniacki told Newstalk ZB's Tony Veitch. "It's an amazing tournament and there is so many things to want to go and see. Hobbiton is definitely one of the things I haven't seen and would love to see ... so we'll see."

Given players' typically tight schedules, it may require a chartered helicopter flight to organise the visit to the Waikato town.

"[Tournament director] Karl [Budge] takes such great care of us when we are there," joked Wozniacki. "I'm expecting big things out of Karl this year ... he has been great at showing us around."

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On the court Wozniacki will have high hopes of finally lifting the trophy in Auckland — she reached the final in 2015 and has also been a semifinalist — after a stellar season.

After struggling through most of 2016, where there were rumours that she was considering retirement, Wozniacki bounced back impressively in 2017.

The 27-year-old reached a tour high eight finals, more than any other player on tour.

She claimed the season-ending championships in Singapore, probably the biggest title of her career, and won the Japan Open.

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She also became engaged to former NBA player David Lee to start a new chapter in her personal life after the difficult breakup with superstar golfer Rory McIllroy.

"It has been an incredible year, with everything happening on and off the court," said Wozniacki. "I couldn't have written it any better, if I got the opportunity to. But that's the beauty of tennis, you can always improve. There will be ups and downs but you appreciate the ups so much more after you have had a rough period."

The tennis tour can be a grind — with an endless cycle of travel, practice and matches — but Wozniacki claims her appetite for the game remains healthy.

"I'm such a competitor and I hate losing," she said. "When you go through the tough times it's so much more rewarding when everything starts going your way again. That's when you work even harder and try even harder to make everything go your way."

Wozniacki also takes a more relaxed approach to her sport after achieving so much success as a young player (she was ranked No1 in the world for 67 weeks in 2010 and 2011).

"I've been there, I've done it," said Wozniacki. "I just love playing now and I'm loving what I do. There is no pressure and I just enjoy every moment."

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However, the Dane admits a burning desire to claim a major, with grand slam success eluding her during a decade-long career.

"I'm going to do my best and see if I am able to do it," said Wozniacki of the challenge.

"I'm going to put myself in the best position and then hopefully it will happen for me this year [winning a major]," she said.

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