Former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki dreams of winning the Australian Open again

MELBOURNE – Former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki said she was dreaming of winning the Australian Open again.

She advanced to the second round after four years away as 2023 semi-finalist Magda Linette retired due to injury while trailing 6-2, 2-0.

Dane Wozniacki came out of retirement in 2023 after the birth of her two children and reached the fourth round of the US Open, where she lost to eventual champion Coco Gauff but showed she could still compete at the highest level.

She said after her opening-round win on Jan 14: “The dream is to win it, obviously.

“I’ve worked hard to be here, to be back at this stage – I didn’t think I’d be back here. It’s really a bonus. I’m just really grateful to be out here but I really feel like I’m playing well, so why not me?

“I feel at home here. The court brings back amazing memories.”

The 2018 Melbourne Park champion was up 5-2 in the opening set when 20th seed Linette took a medical timeout after struggling to move, and the ailing Pole was unable to continue shortly after going down by two games in the second set with heavy strapping to her left thigh.

“It’s never nice to see that. Magda is a good friend of mine. I followed her last year and how unbelievably she played last year here,” said Wozniacki, who will next play Maria Timofeeva, after the Russian qualifier beat France’s Alize Cornet 6-2, 6-4.

“Obviously this isn’t how I wanted to finish it. I really hope it’s not too serious and she recovers soon.”

Earlier, Greek eighth seed Maria Sakkari was relieved to beat Japan’s Nao Hibino 6-4, 6-1 after suffering first-round exits at the last three Grand Slams.

Sakkari has consistently been ranked in the top 10 in recent years but failed to shine at the Majors. Reaching the third round at Melbourne Park was the highlight of her Grand Slam appearances in 2023.

However, the 28-year-old looked a player transformed as she fired off 18 winners and completely dismantled Hibino’s game to clinch the win in just over 70 minutes.

“(I’m feeling) super good because after losing three first rounds in the last three Grand Slams, that was very important for me. I was quite nervous before going into the match, but now I feel relieved,” said Sakkari.

“Overall, despite the nerves and the anxiety and the stress, I think that I was able to – especially in that second set – play a little bit of the tennis that I’ve been playing the last couple of months.

“I’m just feeling very good with my game because I really did some changes. I really worked hard. Believe it or not, I put in more hours than usual. I had a very good pre-season. I think things will start clicking sometime soon.”

Meanwhile, Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka had to wait until close to midnight to kick off her title defence, but the ruthless world No. 2 made quick work of German qualifier Ella Seidel with a 6-0, 6-1 victory.

There was no stopping Sabalenka, who sent out a warning to her rivals with a dominant display in just 53 minutes. REUTERS, AFP