Australian Open 2018: Caroline Wozniacki finally proves press wrong as she adds world no 1 to first Grand Slam

Being one of the most popular players in tennis for the best part of a decade has never shielded Caroline Wozniacki from criticism. Ever since 2009, when the now 27-year-old Dane became world No 1 for the first time, she has grown used to dealing with barbed comments.

Wozniacki reckons she was asked one question in particular “100,000 times, probably more”. The question ran along the lines of: “How can a player be world No 1 without having won a Grand Slam title?”

In the early hours of Sunday morning, as she reflected on her achievement in finally winning a Grand Slam trophy by beating Simona Halep 7-6, 3-6, 6-4 here in the Australian Open final, Wozniacki admitted that proving her critics wrong “feels really good”. In Monday’s updated world rankings list she will return to the top for the first time for six years when she replaces Halep as world No 1.

Who in particular did she feel she would be proving wrong? “Well definitely the press, no offence,” Wozniacki said with a smile in one of the smaller interview rooms in the media centre at Melbourne Park.

“I’ve gotten this question 100,000 times and it’s really nice to prove wrong the people who doubted me. It’s really nice not to have to answer the ‘no Grand Slam’ question ever again. Now, finally, I have the world No 1 and a Grand Slam title. It’s very special.”

The “no Grand Slam” issue is not the only difficult question that Wozniacki has faced over the years. Critics have said that she played too many tournaments and should focus more on the bigger events, denigrated her game for lacking power and, perhaps most painfully of all, suggested that she should replace her father as her coach.

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Piotr Wozniacki, a former professional footballer who taught himself how to teach tennis, has coached his daughter since she was seven years old. Those who saw Piotr as a controlling father had it wrong, because it was always Caroline who wanted him to keep coaching her.

Wozniacki said that finally making her Grand Slam breakthrough “means so much to the both of us”. She explained: “Doing it together makes it extra special. I think we both deserve this.

“It’s been a long road for both of us, but it’s just special that when I started playing tennis at seven years old he was there. When I was 10 years old and we were training at 10pm or 11pm, he was there. When it was raining, when it was hot, he was always there by my side. I think it means a lot to both of us.”

She added: “I’ve learned that I don’t need a huge team. I just need a couple of special people and someone who’s always there having my back, whenever it’s going well and when it’s not going well.”

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Wozniacki said there had been occasions when her father had suggested that it might be time for him to step back, but she had always told him: “I want you there. It’s not as special to me if you’re not by my side when you’ve been there for so long.”

The new world No 1 said that her father “only wants the best for me”. She explained: “Win or lose, I am always his daughter, no matter if I am the No 1 in the world or outside the top 100. It is not going to change his view of me. As long as I give it my all, give it my best, my family and my friends are all going to be behind me.”

Wozniacki described Saturday’s final – against an opponent who had also lost her first two Grand Slam finals – as “more of an even playing field”. The Dane had lost both her previous final at the US Open, to Kim Clijsters in 2009 and to Serena Williams in 2014.

“Kim Clijsters had much more experience than me,” Wozniacki said. “It was my first Grand Slam final and I don’t think I even had a chance to really comprehend what was going on. Then Serena is obviously a great champion who has won so much.

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“I actually felt like I had a legitimate chance of winning this one. I had the chance to reach this goal. For me it was important to stay calm and focused - and I think I did that very well.”

Williams was one of the first to congratulate Wozniacki, who said the American had been “a huge inspiration” to her. “What she has done in women’s sports is incredible,” Wozniacki said. “She is an amazing athlete but I think the most important thing about Serena is that she is an amazing person. She really has taught me a lot of things.

“I have known her for years and years, but I think the way she handles herself, the way she thinks, going out on to court, stuff like that, it has definitely taught me a lot. That is why I think it is very special that she was supporting me today. It’s great to have friends like that.”

As for the future, Wozniacki said she would not lack the hunger for more success. “This definitely takes a lot of pressure off me,” she said. “I just think it will give me a much nicer approach going into a Grand Slam. I’m just going to be so happy going into a Grand Slam now because everything I do from now on is just plusses, because I have nothing to lose.”

Wimbledon will be one of her targets. Although she won junior Wimbledon 12 years ago, Wozniacki has never gone beyond the fourth round of the senior event in 11 attempts.

“I love playing on grass,” she said. “I think it suits my game really well. I don’t understand why I haven’t been able to get past that fourth round. I’ve played some great players, played some in-form players. I’ve been a little unlucky and I’ll try to change that this year.”