NEW DELHI: Caroline Wozniacki, the former Australian Open champion of 2018, expressed her desire that her young children were already asleep after advancing to the second round due to Magda Linette retiring injured on Sunday.
Wozniacki, who came out of retirement during the North American hard-court swing last year and achieved a last-16 finish at the US Open, was leading 6-2, 2-0 when the 20th-seeded Polish player was compelled to withdraw from the evening match on Margaret Court Arena.
"This is not how I wanted to finish it, and I really hope that it's not too serious and that she'll recover soon," she said.
The ex-world number one, who officially retired in 2020, expressed the satisfaction of returning to Melbourne Park, marking a comeback six years after clinching her sole Grand Slam title.
"I feel at home here," she said. "The court brings back amazing memories."
But she was keen that two-year-old Oliva and one-year-old James would be fast asleep by the time she got back to her accommodation.
"They are used to going to bed at 7:30 pm on the dot," she said. "After that it's mummy and daddy's time to enjoy. I think they watched the first 30 minutes of my match."
Wozniacki broke her opponent three times in the opening set to take a firm grip on the match on the first day of action at the season's opening Grand Slam.
Linette, who reached the semi-finals last year, took a medical timeout when trailing 5-2, re-emerging with heavy strapping to her left thigh.
But she decided she could not continue early in the second set and Wozniacki will now face 20-year-old qualifier Maria Timofeeva in the second round.
Wozniacki unashamedly said her aim was to lift the Australian Open trophy again.
"I have worked hard to be here, to be back on this stage," she said. "I didn't think I would be back here after having two kids ... I'm playing well, so why not me?"
(With AFP Inputs)
Stay updated with the latest from IPL Auction 2025, including the final squads of all 10 teams – MI, CSK, RCB, GT, RR, KKR, DC, PBKS, SRH, and LSG. Don't miss the latest updates on our Live Cricket Score page.The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the ...
Read MoreThe TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide.
From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more.
The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics.
We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects.
We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.
Read Less
Start a Conversation
Post comment