Caroline Wozniacki, the former world number one and 2018 Australian Open champion, has announced her intention to return to tennis after retiring three years ago. The Danish star, who won 30 WTA singles titles and two doubles titles in her career, said she still has goals to accomplish and wants to show her kids that they can pursue their dreams no matter their age or role.
Wozniacki retired from tennis in 2020 at the age of 29, saying she wanted to start a family with her husband, former NBA player David Lee. She also revealed that she had been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that causes pain and inflammation in joints, in 2018. However, she said that her retirement was not due to health reasons, but rather her desire to focus on other things in life.
Since then, Wozniacki has given birth to two children, Olivia and James, and has enrolled at Harvard Business School. She has also been involved in raising awareness and funds for women with chronic inflammatory diseases. But the 32-year-old said she missed the game and felt that she was hitting the ball better than ever.
Wozniacki will be given a wild-card invitation to the US Open, which starts on August 28 in New York, according to the US Tennis Association. Additionally, she will participate in a tournament in Montreal that starts earlier in August as a wild card entrant, and she hopes to inspire other women by demonstrating that it is possible to balance parenthood and a job.
Wozniacki is targeting a Grand Slam appearance at the US Open, where she reached the final twice in 2009 and 2014. She also plans to play in Montreal, Australia and the Paris Olympics next year. She said she does not know how long she will be able to play at her highest level, but she knows that it is now or never.
