Rain has been ever-present in Caroline Wozniacki’s matches for the past two weeks in Doha and Dubai and the Dane has been trying hard to face it all with a smile.
It is unusual to get that many consecutive days of rain here in the Gulf and it has definitely taken everyone by surprise.
“At this point, I was just, It’s me. I’m bringing the rain,” she joked after her quarter-final win on Thursday.
“You know, even in Doha and in Dubai, I come and it’s raining. I step on the court and it’s raining. I was, like, this is deja vu from Doha last week.
“At the same time, I’m, like, I have a winning record with this rain. Just bring it on. I’m ready for it.”
So, @CaroWozniacki has reached yet another #DDFtennis final.
— Sport360° (@Sport360) February 24, 2017
Here, the Dane reveals the factors behind her form 🎾
📹https://t.co/9y6uw3ngsv pic.twitter.com/CJBrqf9UoV
Dubai organisers have taken a new approach towards rain delays. On Friday, while the semi-final between Angelique Kerber and Elina Svitolina was briefly suspended, a musician with an acoustic guitar stepped on court and played a few songs for the crowd until the rain had stopped and the courts were dried off.
It was a smart move because most of the spectators stayed in their seats.
Wozniacki, who has now made both the Doha and Dubai finals this month, admits that backing up each win, with all the rain delays, over the past two weeks has been challenging.
“It’s just been all about getting the rest that I needed and just staying disciplined,” said the No10 seed. “When I’m out on court, not thinking about the past week or anything, just what I’m about to do out there.
“I think by now I know my body pretty well. I know when it’s feeling a little bit beat up. Honestly, I think today it was feeling really good. Yesterday was feeling better than the day before. I think the day before yesterday was when I had a small crisis in the body and I really had to pump myself up and just kind of fist pump to myself and kind of get myself going. After that, it’s been better. I think I have been getting some good sleep and good food. I think that’s helped it, for sure.”
.@CaroWozniacki and @ElinaSvitolina To Battle For Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Title
— Dubai Tennis Champs (@DDFTennis) February 24, 2017
LINK: https://t.co/YWaG58VStN pic.twitter.com/fOTQ8BHnvY
Celebration time in Dubai
One of the nice things about the Dubai event is that for a few days, before the women’s week is over and the men’s week starts, you get the feeling that it is a combined tournament, since most of the ATP players have arrived already and are seen practicing on the outside courts while the WTA stars are wrapping up their tournament.
Roger Federer and Andy Murray have both been spotted around the grounds over the past couple of days and they enjoyed some beach tennis in front of Burj Al Arab hotel to celebrate the tournament’s 25th anniversary.
“I’m looking forward to playing, especially on the anniversary of 25 years here in Dubai,” said Federer, a seven-time champion here.
“It’s nice to be part of a tournament celebrating something. I’ve had some great years here in Dubai, I wanted to be in good shape and ready for the conditions so I came early this year. The players like this tournament so much, it’s well organized, and well run with good crowds, and with the hotel and everything on site it’s so convenient.”
