Caroline Wozniacki’s father sparked controversy after labelling women’s tennis as “pathological”, but now his daughter has hit back, suggesting she has been treated respectfully since her return to the tour. The 2018 Australian Open winner added that the sport can do more to support players returning from maternity leave after she had two children between January 2020 and June 2023.
Caroline Wozniacki believes tennis can do more to support female players returning from maternity leave but admits she felt respected after her comeback.
The Dane’s father and coach Piotr sparked controversy last month, labelling women’s tennis as “pathological” after his daughter was denied a wild card for the French and Italian Opens.
Wozniacki retired from the sport in January 2020, giving birth to two children before announcing her return to competitive action in June 2023.
The 2018 Australian Open winner insists the tour can do more to support returning players.
“I think sometimes my dad gets a little ahead of himself. It’s definitely not something we’ve talked about,” she said.
“I think I’ve been treated very well.
“The tournaments have really embraced me coming back and with kids.
“Where I do share my view, and where a lot of other women on tour share the view, is I think there should be more done for women coming back from maternity leave.
“It has been looked at because obviously there are more players now that want to come back but, at the same time, it’s not the same as coming back from an injury.
“As someone who came back after almost four years, I think when you give birth and for the body to recover, you’ve grown a human inside you, there’s a lot of changes that are happening in the body after that.
“I think in general women deserve more time to feel, ‘OK, now I’m ready, I can really prepare and get ready for competing at the highest level’.”
‘WIMBLEDON IS SUCH A SPECIAL EVENT’
Wozniacki became the first Dane to win a major singles title at the Australian Open in 2018.
She will compete at Wimbledon later this summer and believes the event is the jewel in the crown of elite tennis.
“We’re coming into my best part of the season which is grass and hard courts, so those are two surfaces I feel very comfortable and confident at,” she added.
“Wimbledon is such a special event. It has the history and I think it’s a little bit like the Masters in golf when you walk into Wimbledon. You can’t really explain it to someone who hasn’t been there before. It’s an incredibly special place which has this aura around it.
“I’ve played on Centre Court multiple times and you just see and feel how everyone is just so knowledgeable and respectful. And with the way the ball hit the grass, there’s just something so special about that. It’s definitely a place that has brought me a lot of special memories.
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“For me, right now, it’s to get as comfortable and as well prepared as I possibly can for Wimbledon which is obviously my main goal and then we see how I do at Wimbledon but I believe in myself. I believe when I play my best tennis I can beat anyone, especially on a surface like grass.
“I feel like my game is suited to my game well and it’s all about picking my targets and hitting my shots.”
