Moments after winning a long-awaited grand-slam title on Saturday and securing a return to the top of the world rankings, Caroline Wozniacki, with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup in hand, was standing in the bowels of the Rod Laver Arena, receiving the congratulations of Craig Tiley, the tournament director of the Australian Open.
Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Piotr, Wozniacki’s ecstatic father and coach, who suddenly burst into song. “Sweet Caroline,” he crooned, in imitation of Neil Diamond. David Lee, the American former NBA player who became engaged to Wozniacki in November, referred to his fiancée not by name but as “world No 1”.
Beers were enjoyed by Wozniacki’s team in the player restaurant, while the champion herself embarked on a two-and-a-half-hour media tour. Missing out on the immediate celebrations for the greatest moment of your career is a shame, but the smile beamed on the 27-year-old’s face, knowing that not one of the interviewees would pose the question: when are you finally going to win a grand-slam?
“Honestly, I think that is one of the most positive things about all of this,” she said. “I’m never going to get that question again. I’m just waiting for the question, ‘When are you going to win the second one?’ ”
If Wozniacki does win another, it will have taken some going to match her resilient efforts at Melbourne Park. Twelve days ago, she was staring at an early exit before saving two match points at 5-1 down in the deciding set of her second-round match against Jana Fett, the world No 119 from Croatia.
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Then, on Saturday, Wozniacki outlasted Simona Halep, the Romanian top seed, in the most thrilling of women’s grand-slam finals in recent years. This two-hour-and-49-minute match, played in extreme heat and humidity, was such a gruelling encounter that Halep was taken to hospital afterwards and treated for dehydration. Thankfully, she made a quick recovery and was released yesterday morning.
Whatever happens during the remainder of Wozniacki’s career, she can retire with a sense of contentment. Before this year, she had achieved so much outside the grand-slams — 67 weeks at the pinnacle of the rankings, two appearances in major finals and 27 tour titles, including the 2017 WTA Finals — but this is the cherry on the cake.
“I think I’ve had an incredible career,” Wozniacki said. “At the end of the day, I think a lot of people would like to be in my position. Honestly, nobody knows how much work [and] dedication you put into it.
“All I could tell myself was, ‘You’ve given it everything you have. If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen. If not, then at least you know you’ve given it everything you’ve got and you can be proud of any achievement.’ Obviously adding a grand-slam to my CV is what caps it off and really shows my career as a whole.”
Wozniacki has had little time to rest since she converted her first match point. Yesterday, she paraded “Daphne” at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Melbourne after just 90 minutes of sleep.
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As the first Danish player to win a grand-slam singles title, the reaction in Wozniacki’s homeland has been frenzied. One television commentator was reduced to tears as Halep’s backhand hit the net on match point, and the Danish royal family led the many calls and messages of congratulations.
To think that Wozniacki, dogged by ankle and arm injuries, considered quitting the sport in 2016. She arrived at that year’s US Open as the world No 74.
“I think players sometimes, they just get so frustrated,” she said. “When you’re hurt, you say all sorts of stuff. I’ve been through a few injuries. I think the most frustrating part was that when I was healthy, I knew I can beat anyone.”
Before Halep’s overnight stay in hospital, the 26-year-old held a surprisingly upbeat press conference in which she made clear that it was the body and not the mind that prevented her from getting across the finish line.
“I felt ready [to win a grand-slam], but the body was not ready because I had so many long matches,” she said. “The muscles were tired, the feet were not good enough. But mentally I was ready. I feel that I can face any challenge, I can play against anyone, I can win against anyone.”