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Home / Sport / Tennis

Tennis: Caroline Wozniacki taking career to new level

Michael Burgess
By Michael Burgess
Senior Sports Journalist·NZ Herald·
18 Dec, 2014 04:00 PM6 mins to read

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On her first visit here in 2009 an 18-year-old Caroline Wozniacki reached the quarter-finals of the ASB Classic. Photo / Greg Bowker

On her first visit here in 2009 an 18-year-old Caroline Wozniacki reached the quarter-finals of the ASB Classic. Photo / Greg Bowker

Dane has rebounded on and off the court as she gets her life back in the groove

Caroline Wozniacki is behind schedule.

The world No8 - one of the most famous sportswomen on the planet - is in the middle of off-season training but jokes that her Christmas plans are in some disarray.

Less than a week out from the big day, Wozniacki has yet to organise a tree, buy gifts or find time for her famed Christmas baking.

"I've got to start decorating, get a tree and get ready for Christmas," Wozniacki says with a laugh from her Florida base. "I still need to buy all my presents - usually I have it all done by December 1st - but I've been really busy."

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That's a pretty severe understatement. Wozniacki - who will be the top seed at next month's ASB Classic - has had an incredibly eventful 2014.

She started the year as one half of the world's most famous sporting couple, before golfer Rory McIlroy dramatically called off their wedding in May. And she had no time for some private sorrow, as McIlroy bizarrely issued a press release confirming the split less than 24 hours after breaking the news to Wozniacki in a 10-minute phone call.

But she rebounded on the court, and also found time to run the world's most famous marathon. She was also a front row star at the New York Fashion awards, completed a sprint triathlon with Serena Williams, and participated in the inaugural International Tennis League in Asia.

And most importantly, she has got her game back and was one of the best players on the circuit from June onwards. She won her 22nd career title in Istanbul and reached two other finals, including the US Open (against Williams), and four semifinals.

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"It's been a great second half of the year," says Wozniacki. "Reaching the US Open final was just amazing. I wish I could have won that last one [but] Serena was just too strong that day - but there were so many positives to take with me into the new year."

It certainly feels like she is back in the groove and ready to recapture the form of 2010 and 2011. She reached 16 finals during that period (winning 12) and spent 67 weeks at No 1, though a precious Grand Slam victory has eluded her

She has reached two major finals, both in New York, losing to Kim Cljisters as a teenager in 2009 and Williams last September. Wozniacki has also reached the last four of a grand slam on three other occasions, during an extremely competitive era of women's tennis, with the Williams sisters, Cljisters, Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka taking the sport to a new level. Has it simply been unfortunate timing?

"There will always be new great players coming up [and] there will always be legends playing," said Wozniacki. "At the end of the day you just need to take your chances, make your own opportunities and make your own luck."

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There should be room for the Dane, with the likes of Francesca Schiavone, Sam Stosur and Marion Bartoli lifting grand slam trophies in recent years, but somehow it has yet to happen.

"I feel like I am putting myself in positions to win," says Wozniacki. "It is all about just working hard and keep trying - that is all you can do. I fight hard at every tournament and I do the best that I can."

Wozniacki also showed a new attacking side to her game at the US Open, as she took the initiative more often and earlier in the rallies.

"You are always just working on small things - that is what you have to do," says Wozniacki. "Trying to get your racket head speed up, trying to hit deeper and harder, trying to be faster and stronger. You have to always be improving because everyone else is."

However, Wozniacki is much more than a tennis player - she is a global brand, labelled the "Tennis world's next icon" in a recent Wall Street Journal article. She is one of the most marketable female athletes in the world and rakes in tens of millions a year through deals with adidas, Babolat and Rolex among others, while Moet and Chandon have commissioned a $15,000 Champagne diamond bracelet to present to Wozniacki when she arrives in Auckland next month.

"Obviously I'm a tennis player first but if you do well on court everything else follows," says Wozniacki, who nabbed her first sponsorship at the age of 10 by personally cold calling the offices of adidas in Germany.

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"It takes time away from the court and from your own time to do things for your sponsors but at the same time it is great and I love it. Hopefully the sponsors that I have want to stay for a long time."

There is no doubt they will - as she is a sponsor's dream. She can express herself in seven or eight languages and has broad appeal; just look at the buzz created around her marathon effort last month.

"It was one of the hardest things I have ever done," says Wozniacki. "People [had] told me once you get into Central Park you are basically there but Central Park felt so long. Once I crossed that finish line I felt like I had just conquered the world; it was the most incredible feeling and I had so much support from the crowd."

Wozniacki also made headlines with her appearance at New York Fashion week, where she sat alongside Vogue editor Anna Wintour in the front row.

"She asked me if I was considering getting a haircut and I think that was a hint to get one," says Wozniacki with a laugh. "I did get a haircut - she set up an appointment the next day - It's still long but has a better shape."

Wozniacki played at the ASB Classic in 2009 as an 18-year-old, reaching the quarter-finals.

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"It's been a while," says Wozniacki. "I really loved the tournament back then and hopefully it will be a good start to the year and I can get some good matches under my belt there."

On her last visit Wozniacki's time was mainly confined to the hotel and practice courts - though she was persuaded to serve blindfolded for a media shoot - and she hopes to do some sightseeing this time round.

"I definitely want to have a look around," says Wozniacki. "I want to make an effort to go out and [see] the beautiful country."

Caroline Wozniacki

Age:

24

Turned pro:

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2005

Career titles:

22 WTA, 4 ITF

Ranking:

8

Highest ranking:

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1 (2010)

Grand slam finals:

2 (US Open - 2009, 2014)

Career prize money:

$25 million

Top players in Auckland

Caroline Wozniacki:

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Denmark (8th in world)

Sara Errani:

Italy (14)

Venus Williams:

USA (18)

Barbora Zahalova Strycova:

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Czech Republic (25)

Svetlana Kuznetsova:

Russia (27)

Sloane Stephens:

USA (36)

Coco Vandeweghe:

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USA (39)

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