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Former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki stunned the tennis world on Thursday with the announcement that she would be returning to the sport three years after retiring.
Wozniacki, now 32, previously announced her retirement in 2020 saying that she wanted to start a family and raise awareness about rheumatoid arthritis, a condition she suffers from.
However the Dane has now confirmed in a piece with Vogue that she will make her return to tennis later in 2023.
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She said: “Three years ago, having achieved almost everything I’d ever set out to do, I walked away from the professional tour. I wanted to start a family, and I needed a break. I had no idea how long that break would last.
“But then, one day late last year, I found myself setting up a couple of sessions on the court. And when my dad visited me in Florida, I realised I needed advice. I hit for 20, 30 minutes – I’m not sure how long, but at one point I looked at him and said, “I feel like I’m hitting it better than I ever have. Am I making that up?
“He said I wasn’t making that up. And that’s when I knew I had to get back out there.”
Wozniacki is now targeting a Grand Slam appearance at the US Open after reaching the final on two previous occasions at Flushing Meadows.
However, this comeback is not a flash in the pan, with the 32-year-old also targeting appearances at the Australian Open and the Olympic Games next year.
“So I’m going to play the US Open. There’s just an electric atmosphere in New York that I can’t get enough of, and I’ve played so well there for years and years,” Wozniacki continued.
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“I’ll start out playing in Montreal just to get back into the groove, and then we’ll all head to New York. After that, I’ll have a couple of months to prepare for Australia, and we’ll take it from there. The Paris Olympics are definitely a goal too.
“How long will I be able to play at my highest level – a year, two years, three years? I don’t know. But I know that five years from now, when the kids are in school, it will be too late.”
Caroline Wozniacki, Australian Open
Image credit: Getty Images
The former world No. 1 is not ruling out the possibility of adding to her solitary Grand Slam title in Melbourne five years ago, and stressed that winning another Major remains on the agenda.
She said: “Am I nervous? Not really. I’m coming back to something I love. Yes, I’ll be nervous before a match; I’m okay with that. I’m great with that. Can I win the US Open? I think so. Can I win the Australian Open? I think so.
“That’s why I’m doing this. And I guess we’ll see what happens.”
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