With Serena Williams absent from the WTA Tour after becoming a mother, this year’s Australian Open is arguably the toughest Grand Slam to call in years. The list of realistic contenders is easily in the double figures with the likes of Simona Halep, Garbine Muguruza and Elina Svitolina all fancying their chances. But could 2018 finally be the year that Danish starlet Caroline Wozniacki captures glory on the big stage?
The world number two enjoyed a strong 2017, completed with her WTA Championships final victory over Venus Williams in Singapore to clinch the biggest title of her career. However, despite reaching her first Grand Slam final at the 2009 US Open, the great Dane is still waiting to break her duck on the biggest stage of all.
Still, many people picked the resurgent 27-year-old before the first major tournament of the year started with experts like Lauren Wood and Nick Smart, as per HeraldSun.com.au, picking the second seed as their choice for the title. Following a dominant opening day first round victory over Mihaela Buzarnescu, those prospects began to to look brighter than ever.
Then in her secound round match Wednesday, Wozniacki faced a much tougher opponent with Jana Fett pushing her to the brink of defeat. Wozniacki found herself down 1-5 in the third set. The Dane rallied and saved two match points before reeling off six straight games to remarkably win the match 3-6, 6-2, 7-5.
A third round clash against Kiki Bertens is up next. Bertens is an experienced player but Dutch tennis betting experts point to Wozniacki’s 100% head to head record as a source of confidence. Likewise, the Dane would be heavily favored against either of her potential fourth round opponents between veteran Kateryna Bondarenko and 19th seeded Magdalena Rybarikvova.
Once at the quarter-final stage, anything can happen. Nonetheless, Wozniacki’s hopes are already boosted by the early exits of CoCo Vandeweghe, Venus Williams, Sloane Stephens and Ekaterina Makarova. With further seeds likely to tumble over the coming days, the 2011 semi-finalist should be in a great position if she can reach week two.
Off the court, Wozniacki seems to be all smiles with fiance David Lee, who is in Melbourne to offer support as reported by Independent.ie. Back in 2014, she reached her second Grand Slam final in spite of a well-documented breakup from golf star Rory McIlroy. Now, though, a first title in Australia would be the perfect way to cap off her first 12 months of engagement to the retired NBA star.
The bookies don’t often get it wrong, and their odds of 4/1 suggest they feel Wozniacki can reach her third Grand Slam final. Given that her previous finals were against an in-form Kim Clijsters and the formidable Serena, it would surely be her best chance to go all the way. When her defensive play is at its best, she is certainly capable of beating any opponent in Melbourne.
Wozniacki’s resurgence to the top table of tennis has been a slow burner, but she is now firmly back among the top contenders. While the competition will be fierce, she has to be considered one of the favourites.
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