Caroline Wozniacki to return to tennis after having two children and being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis

During her career, Wozniacki spent 71 weeks at the top of the world rankings. Photo: Reuters/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake

Former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki has announced her return to tennis after giving birth to two children and being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.

Wozniacki has held the number one spot throughout her career. ranked for 71 weeks and won one major title at the 2018 Australian Open.

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The Danish woman retired in 2020 at just 29 after the effects of her rheumatoid arthritis — an autoimmune disease that causes pain, swelling and stiffness in her joints — became too painful to handle alongside her tennis.

Three years after her retirement, Wozniacki continued her work as an expert and gave birth to two children with her husband, former basketball player David Lee.

It wasn't until her second child, James, was born last October that she picked up her racket again, and a few months after she decided her career remained unfinished, thanks to the advice of her father and former coach Peter.

The US Open will be her first major appearance on the court, and on Thursday the USTA announced that she has received a wildcard into the main draw. She was a finalist in New York twice — in 2009 and 2014 — and believes she has a chance to finally win the title.

“Three years ago, having achieved almost everything that I have ever intended to do, I retired from the professional tour,» Wozniacki wrote in a first-person article for American Vogue.

“I wanted to start a family and I needed a break. I had no idea how long this break would last. But then, one day late last year, I found myself having a couple of sessions on the court. And when my dad visited me in Florida, I realized that I needed advice. I hit for 20, 30 minutes — I don't know how long, but at some point I looked at him and said, «I feel like I'm hitting better than ever.» Am I making this up? He said I wasn't making it up. And then I realized that I had to go back there.

“I'm going to play the US Open…I'm going to start in Montreal to get back into rhythm and then we'll all go to New York. After that, I will have a couple of months to prepare for Australia, from there we will take it. The Paris Olympics is definitely a goal too.

Wozniacki won her only major tournament in Australia in 2018. Photo: Reuters/Issei Kato

“Can I win the US Open? I think so. Can I win the Australian Open? I think so. That's why I do it. And I think we'll see what happens. I think it's a great story. I think it's great.»

During her career, Wozniacki was known for her defensive base game as well as her friendly temperament, which drew sympathy from fans. During her last Australian Open retirement match, when she lost in the third round to Once Jaber, the audience sang «Sweet Caroline» to her as she left for what seemed to be the last time.

What what they didn't know was the extent of the pain she was experiencing two years after she announced her RA diagnosis at the peak of her powers.

In an article for Vogue, along with a stylish photo shoot on the court with the kids, Wozniacki revealed that there were moments in 2018 when she «couldn't get out of bed…comb her hair or brush her teeth.» because of the pain she was in.

She managed her condition while on tour for two years with a strict diet, sleep schedule, and exercise that alleviated inflammation, but she eventually burned out in the process. .

Now planning her return, she said: “With my RA, I have been paying close attention to how my body is responding. And honestly? So far so good,” she said. “The long break seems to have done wonders in terms of recovery and mentally I am fresh. I don't put that much pressure on myself, but at the same time I know that when I'm there, I'll fight.”

During her career, she forged a close relationship with fellow champion Serena Williams, who beat her in the 2014 final in New York. In her Vogue article, she thanked Williams for her «support» for this comeback and for inspiring her to return to the track as a mother. She also credited Kim Clijsters, who remains the only woman since 1980 to win a major title after giving birth, defeating Wozniacki in the 2009 US Open final.

“I want to prove it to myself and to these women. You can have both: you can be excited about your family and your entire home, and still have a career—and succeed at it.

“Let's also understand: most of the men on the tour don't need to retire to start a family — they can play to the end. You had Roger [Federer] who had four children during the game. Novak [Djokovic] has two and Rafa [Nadal] has a child; [Andy] Murray has four.

«For women, however, it was mostly either/or and I would love to be part of that change. Victoria Azarenka, Kim Clijsters and Serena have already shown what it takes to have a baby and get back on tour. It is by no means easy, but possible.”