Caroline Wozniacki couldn’t resist New York. When the former world No. 1 came out of retirement last July, the US Open was her first Grand Slam in three years. As a mother of two, Wozniacki made it all the way to the fourth round where she lost a three-setter to the eventual champion, Coco Gauff.
While last year’s run at Flushing Meadows was quite a statement, Wozniacki is still working on finding the consistency of the past, when she was ranked No. 1 in the world for 71 weeks. The two-time US Open runner-up made it to the second round of the 2024 Australian Open, the third round of Wimbledon, and competed in her fourth Olympics in Paris this summer, but has only reached the quarterfinals at two tournaments this year.
“It’s been a good year," Wozniacki, 34, said Friday. "I've beaten some really high-level players [including eventual Paris silver medalist Donna Vekic at Indian Wells, 2021 US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez and former Wimbledon semifinalist Elina Svitolina on grass].
"I feel like I've hit my great level at times. It's not easy to have two kids and then come back and play at the highest level, but I think I've done extremely well and I'm very proud of that.”
It helps that her family has been along for the ride. Wozniacki continues to be coached by her father, Piotr, and she said it’s been a “gift” to bring her 3-year-old daughter, Olivia, and nearly-2-year-old son, James, on tour.
“For them to see different parts of the world, meet new people, see new cultures … they absorb everything. It really opens them up,” she said.
“For me as, as a player, as a mom, it's not easy to balance two things that are so important to me,” she admitted. “Both take a lot of time and a lot of commitment, in different ways.
“As a professional athlete, you’re usually striving for time for yourself to relax,” she said, explaining that it doesn’t really exist as a parent, especially with two little ones. “I spend time with my kids when I'm not on the court. I don't want to miss anything. I wouldn't want it any other way.”
Another recent challenge has been a physical one.
“My body has not been cooperating 100% the way I wanted it to,” she said. “I've been a little unlucky with a few injuries here and there but ... I'm not 20 years old anymore, so I guess that's to be expected.”
In 2018, she was also diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, which can be extremely unpredictable. With the benefit of experience, Wozniacki is much more selective in choosing her tournament schedule these days.
“I think when I was younger, I would probably be a bit more panicked,” she said, but “I'm not panicking. I know my game. I know what I need to do. It's not as vital for me to be playing every week.”
On Friday, Wozniacki appeared completely calm–even though she will begin her 15th US Open next week without a major post-retirement win.
Asked how much longer she envisioned competing, she said, “I don't know, I think it's a feeling–a feeling of when you feel like it's enough. That’s when you make the decision. At this point, I haven't made that decision."
"I'm here. I'm enjoying myself," she continued. "I want to play in these big stadiums in front of an amazing crowd. I feel like I can beat anyone on a good day, and that's kind of where my head's at.”
Wozniacki will face 29-year-old Nao Hibino of Japan for the first time in the first round.
The Dane is already looking forward to it.
“The US Open is one of my favorite events. I like to bring my best tennis here,” she said.
