Former Wimbledon champion says Caroline Wozniacki can’t be written off as a US Open contender
Former Wimbledon doubles champion Frederik Lochte Nielsen believes that the mental toughness of former world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki will make her a strong US Open contender.
On the eve of Wimbledon, Wozniacki announced that she would make her Grand Slam return at Flushing Meadows later this year.
Wozniacki reportedly doesn’t lack for offers of wildcards throughout the US Open season but has only confirmed entry in the Canadian Open as a warm-up to her Grand Slam return.
However she has indicated that she will be making a full-time return to the WTA Tour.
Nielsen says that he has had hit outs with Wozniacki and warned that she will be a force to be reckoned with as she comes back to achieve goals which remain a mystery to us.
“I have seen her play, and I have even played with her myself. She plays really well, but of course, it’s difficult to know where she stands because it’s different when you enter a match,” Nielsen told SpilXperten.
“But there is one thing I know about Caroline, and that is that you should never underestimate her character and her mentality, which truly take you far.”
Nielsen believes that Montreal will clue the rest of the world in on where Wozniacki is on her comeback trail.
“She is used to being one of the best in the world, and she certainly still sees herself that way,” Nielsen added.
“She hits the ball well, and she’s not doing this because she can’t pass the time, but because she feels she can be competitive.
“She believes she can compete with the best, otherwise, she wouldn’t have done it. It’s a bit difficult to assess her level right now, and of course, we’ll have a slightly better indication of that after Montreal.
“But she is a unique personality, and she has a unique mentality, so one should by no means write her off or be surprised by anything. That’s why she has been so good in the past as well. She definitely feels that she can compete with the best.”
Wozniacki wants to change the perception that WTA professionals need to give up the game to be mothers.
She opened up on her goals in a column for Vogue that went into great depth about her motivation for returning to the sport after three years away.
Wozniacki’s husband is former NBA player David Lee and she noted that they both had their world changed by becoming parents.
“You’re so selfish as an athlete,” Wozniacki wrote in Vogue.
“David played 12 seasons in the NBA, and he’d agree with me: Your entire focus is being the best competitor that you can possibly be. But then having a child turns your world upside down. It’s not about you anymore—it’s about this little human, and their schedule, their milestones, doing what they need to do. It’s a whole new world of wonder, and it changed us.”
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