The Dane laments a tough second-round loss to Russian qualifier Maria Timofeeva.
After reaching the round of 16 at the US Open in the first Grand Slam appearance of her comeback, Caroline Wozniacki’s confidence grew and, in her mind, the former champion believed that she could make a big splash in this year’s Australian Open.
That dream ended abruptly on Wednesday in Melbourne, as the 2018 champion was ousted by 20-year-old qualifier Maria Timofeeva, 1-6, 6-4, 6-1.
Wozniacki lead the World No.170 by a set and 2-0, with a break point for 3-0, but ended up losing the plot and falling the the Grand Slam debutante in disappointing fashion.
What a moment for Maria Timofeeva đź‘Źđź‘Ź
The qualifier topples Wozniacki 1-6 6-4 6-1. See you in the third round, Maria 👋#AusOpen • #AO2024 pic.twitter.com/qZhdc8erMP
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 17, 2024
33-year-old Wozniacki says that no matter her expectations, losing always stings the same. Maybe even a bit more at this stage of her career.
“I would like to say that in my mind, I can just kind of brush it under the carpet, but it sucks just as much,” Wozniacki said. “You know, losing now and losing back then, it doesn’t really change. As a competitor you want to win everything.
“You know, when you have the family here and you bring everyone, you want to win even more because you want to stay longer and not have to move around.”
Wozniacki drops to 5-5 since her comeback started last year in Montreal, and suffers her first loss to a player ranked outside of the Top 100 since she returned.
“It definitely sucks and it’s disappointing,” she said. “I felt like this was my match to win, and I didn’t. I obviously sit here with a very disappointing feeling, because, you know, looking back, I feel like the match kind of slid out of my hands. At this point, there’s nothing I can do about it, but obviously playing a Grand Slam and, you know, you want to keep winning.”
As far as her comeback goes, Wozniacki says she isn’t sure when she will surface on the tour again. She told reporters she needs to process the loss.
“I was planning on being here for a while longer, so honestly I don’t know right now,” the former World No.1 said. “I need to just kind of swallow this loss and then kind of go from there, see how I feel, what I want to do. Yeah, honestly, I don’t know right now.”