By Joe McDonald | Friday, August 24, 2018
Caroline Wozniacki says the knee issue that forced her out of Cincinnati will not be a factor in her US Open opener against Samantha Stosur.
Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve
NEW YORK—It’s going to be a different US Open for Caroline Wozniacki this year.
Forever a bridesmaid in Grand Slams, the two-time Flushing Meadows finalist finally got off the snide this year.
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And now she is a Grand Slam winner after edging Simona Halep to come on top in Australia in January.
“It's something that definitely I wanted to achieve before, you know, I ended my career at some point,” she said at US Open media day today. “So it's amazing to have that under my belt. And to say I have won a Grand Slam, it definitely feels great. You know, I started off the year on a high note.”
So if you got one, why not two?
Seeded No. 2 in the tournament, Wozniacki is looking to do just that.
Even though she’s just 28, it seems like she’s been around forever, since she went to the final back in 2009 at age 19.
Now the veteran on the tournament, Wozniacki is looking to cap her career and possibly look forward.
However after winning in January, she had a different take on what to do next.
“I think for me it was more about just kind of regrouping, because in my career I have done so much and I have won so many tournaments and obviously been No. 1, but then I still always had that goal, you know, I want to win a Grand Slam,” she said. “So that was always my aim and my focus when I was training that obviously I want to win everything, but I want to win a Grand Slam.”
So now onto this tournament and her first round match, against 2011 Open champion Sam Stosur on Monday at 11 a.m.
It’s never an easy match facing the Australian, even at her tennis advanced age of 34.
“Sam's a great player and obviously won the US Open here in 2011, I think. You know, it's definitely a tough first round, Wozniacki said. “I have to be ready from the start. There is no easing into it.
“But I'm ready. I feel I'm playing good. I feel I'm doing the right things, so we'll see.”
It will be interesting to see how she does, since Wozniacki had to pull the plug on Cincinnati in the first round due to a knee injury. She says she’s okay now, but you never know.
“It was definitely more worrisome at the time,” she said. “I'm feeling good now. I have been playing points now for the past few days and played sets and everything, and I feel great. I'm very happy with that progress. Yeah, I'm 100 percent now.”
She’s going to need that too.
As the veteran on the tour, who even thought about retirement just a year ago, Wozniacki knows she is entering the later half of her career.
Recently engaged to former Knick David Lee, the Danish star is now a role model for younger tennis players.
“You see young ones coming up all the time, and you talk to them and you kind of get to know everyone,” Wozniacki said. “I think that's kind of the way, you know. Everyone gets introduced to each other, and I think that way, you know, they can ask questions.
“If there is anything they want to know, I think you just set a good example, as well, with your actions and the way you carry yourself.”
Especially after you win a Grand Slam.