Sport360° view: Wozniacki’s fighting spirit has seen her survive a brutal rollercoaster

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  • Tough nice girl: Caroline Wozniacki.

    It’s been five years since a 19-year-old Caroline Wozniacki made the finals at the US Open. 

    Ranked No8 in the world at the time, the Dane hadn’t made it past the fourth round in any of her 10 previous Grand Slam appearances. But her consistent game and exceptional retrieval skills had helped her reach the title match, taking out former champion and big-hitter Svetlana Kuznetsova en route.

    In the final, Wozniacki was up against Kim Clijsters, who was returning to the tour as a mother following a two-year retirement and was playing just her third tournament then. The Belgian would go on to make history, becoming the first mother in 29 years to lift a Grand Slam trophy.

    Today, Wozniacki finds herself once again standing between her opponent and history, as Serena Williams – the overwhelming favourite – is seeking an 18th major singles title to join legends Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert in second place on the all-time list.

    But much has happened in the five years since Wozniacki’s first attempt at a major triumph. 

    A rise to No1 in the world, endless criticism of her inability to win a major that would justify her position at the top, a dip in the rankings, and a public engagement followed by an even more public break-up, all made for one brutal emotional rollercoaster for the young Dane, who many forget is just 24.

    But what Wozniacki lacks in aggression on court has always been made up for by her incredible fight, and it is that trait that has brought her back to a Grand Slam final.

    Her game has been picking up since she made the semis in Eastbourne and she’s now won 24 of her last 29 matches on tour.
    In New York this fortnight, she beat reigning French Open champion Maria Sharapova in three before surrendering just one game in her straight-set drubbing of Sara Errani.

    She averaged 24 winners and 13.5 unforced errors in those two matches. Those are hardly numbers you would associate with Wozniacki, who in the past could go through an entire set without hitting a winner.

    Although she’s always resisted adding new elements to her game or relying more on aggression, the current version of Wozniacki has shown a little more “umph” in her shots, which is why she’s been able to stretch Williams to three sets in Montreal and Cincinnati leading up to the Open and why she’ll be facing her in the final today.

    It’s unfair and disrespectful to reduce Wozniacki’s recent achievements to being simply an aftermath of her break-up with Rory McIlroy. Her entire career, including all the highs and the lows, have led her back to this point. 

    In truth, Wozniacki is the toughest nice girl you can find out there and the way she’s stood up to her critics and has mentally matured over the past several years was always going to translate into on-court success sooner or later. 

    She faces a difficult test today as she takes on a good friend in Williams. The closer the relationship between players, the closer matches usually are. 

    Still, the odds are stacked in the American’s favour. She’s got the power game, is the two-time defending champion, and is 8-1 head-to-head against Wozniacki. 

    It’s a perfect opportunity for Wozniacki to try and silence her critics once and for all. Will she take it?

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