Upon walking into the media room at the US Open for her press conference on Friday, Caroline Wozniacki looked around the spacious area, saw the assembled journalists nestled in their seats, and flashed a wide smile usually reserved for a post-match victory inside Arthur Ashe Stadium in front of applauding, adoring fans.
What was an old hat felt new again.
A veteran of many battles on the tennis court—many of them, she won—reverted to feeling like a kid anticipating Christmas on a snowy day. After years away from the game, and after starting a family, Wozniacki is ready for the joy that tennis—and New York City—has given her over her illustrious tennis career.
In a few days, Wozniacki, the former world No. 1 and 2018 Australian Open champion, will experience the roller coaster of playing Grand Slam tennis once again as she readies herself to play in Flushing Meadows for the first time since she retired from the game in 2020 and, subsequently, gave birth to two children: 2-year-old daughter Olivia and 9-month-old James.
“It's pretty cool. It's really great to be back here at the US Open and to have the opportunity to play here one more time,” a smiling Wozniacki said. ”It's pretty special. I have great memories here. I love playing here in front of the fans on these courts. I didn't think three years ago that I was going to be here, so this is awesome.”
It doesn’t hurt that the transition back to Grand Slam tennis will take place in familiar environs that engender great memories. Five of Wozniacki’s seven career Grand Slam semifinal appearances have come at the US Open, and she reached the final in both 2009 and 2014. Soon after her 2014 final against Serena Williams, Wozniacki participated in, and completed, the New York City Marathon.
Now, Wozniacki has a marathon on her hands daily: keeping up with her two little ones. Wozniacki said the whole family is currently in town, and being in New York before a memorable return to the US Open is just as convenient as it is exciting.
“I love New York. Before I had kids, when I was young, even now, I think it takes a little more of an effort just to make sure the kids have everything they kind of need,” Wozniacki said. “There's so much to do here in the city. We're staying close to a park. I kind of have most of the city scoped out. I have a lot of friends here who have kids. A lot of little play dates for them. For me, it's just fun.”
Juggling motherhood and professional tennis have brought the expected logistical challenges, but, as with many mothers, Wozniacki has experienced how her children have given her a different perspective when heading back to work, noting that her children were not jet-lagged after she traveled from Montreal to Cincinnati, the two tournaments that marked her official return to the WTA Tour earlier this month.
"I think I realized that the kids are so adaptable. … It's bringing me so much joy to have the whole family and everyone here," she said. "For me to be able to focus 100% on my tennis, but then also being able to go home in the afternoon or after a match or even to see them quickly in the morning if I have a match in the afternoon, just seeing them for a little bit, it just brings so much calmness to my everyday life.
“I think as I progress into playing more and more, that's what can make a big difference for me. Also when I'm on court, I know that I'm 100% on court, giving it my all when I'm there. When I'm with the kids, that's what matters most to me at that point.”
Wozniacki doesn’t know how many more years she wants to play as she raises her children, but, unintentionally, she has passed on the tennis bug to Olivia, who asked her mom to bring back some US Open tennis balls to play with after Wozniacki practiced this week.
As it turned out, mommy forgot. But Wozniacki said her dad and coach, Piotr, remembered to bring back some balls for Olivia to play with at home earlier this week.
And in a span of a New York minute, it might be Olivia who ends up carrying the family name well after Wozniacki fires off her final groundstrokes.
“This morning before I went on site as well, she said, ‘Mommy, mommy, can I go with you to work?" she said. "'I want to be like you. I want to play tennis.’”
