Life and Leisure

Holding court

By Yu Yilei (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-10-11 15:10

Wozniacki in action during the match against Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic. This was the win that pushed the Dane past Serena Williams to top of the WTA world rankings. [Photo by Yang Shizhong/China Daily]

Wozniacki savors her triumph after winning the AEGON International in the UK in 2009.  [Photo/Agencies]

She's the newly crowned princess of tennis, a pretty young Dane whose story could have been penned by Hans Christian Andersen, her famous countryman. China Daily's Yu Yilei narrates the fairy-tale rise of Caroline Wozniacki.

While the young Caroline's favorite bedtime stories were Danish fables, she never imagined her own life would be like a fairy tale, too. But now, at the age of just 20, she sits on top of the rankings as the world's best woman tennis player. Her passion for the game started early. She was ruling the courts at the age of 7 and by the time the young Wozniacki turned 11, she was a frequent guest at the royal summer home of Fredensborg Palace, where she played mixed doubles with Crown Prince Frederik Andre Henrik Christian, heir to the Danish throne and an avid tennis player. The prince became a faithful fan who attended her Wimbledon junior matches and helped cover her travel expenses with a $3,000 check. At 13, she became the top-ranked player in Denmark, and, by 16, Wozniacki was already the girls' singles champion at Wimbledon. On Thursday, this young lady from Odense, the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen, added yet another accolade to her already impressive list of achievements. By defeating Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic in straight sets at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, she shot past US player Serena Williams to become the world's top-ranked women's tennis player. She is the first Dane to reach the pinnacle since the World Tennis Association (WTA) introduced the ranking system, and the only Dane in the women's top 300.

It was a distant dream just a few years ago. In 2007, Wozniacki was still ranked outside the world top 60 and it was not until 2008 that she bagged her first tour title.

When asked what spurs her meteoric rise, her answer is surprisingly simple.

"I think it's hard work. I really love the things I do. It's tough but it's great that I am able to get the results I want," Wozniacki tells China Daily in an exclusive interview.

Sometimes, the luck of the draw is just the kick-start. As top seed, Wozniacki needed to win two matches in Beijing to secure the top ranking, partly because of Serena William's break from injury.

Wozniacki did not waste her opportunity. After defeating Sara Errani of Italy easily on Wednesday, she dominated Thursday's game against Kvitova, a Wimbledon semifinalist, quickly gaining victory after the Czech player returned her serve into the net.

Fists punching the air, Wozniacki was barely able to contain her excitement as she exalted in the cheers from the stands, where quite a few Danish flags waved wildly.

"I am very proud. I can call myself the No 1 in the world now. It's an incredible feeling, something I've always worked to achieve," she says.

Wozniacki is the daughter of Polish immigrants and was born with all the right genes. Her mother Anna played on the Polish women's national volleyball team while her father Piotr played professional soccer in Poland and in Mannheim, Germany.

The family moved to Denmark when Piotr signed on with Danish soccer club Boldklubben 1909. The young Caroline has an older brother Patrik who used to pace her on the tennis courts but is now playing professional soccer at home.

Wozniacki's family background is reminiscent of former world No 1 Martina Hingis of Switzerland, a five-time Grand Slam winner. Hingis also comes from a sporting family, with parents who were highly ranked in Czech tennis.

"I wanted to play like her when I was growing up. I wanted to know all the shots. I wanted to play smart," Wozniacki remembers, rating Hingis as her tennis idol along with German legend Steffi Graf.

"You know, I've never been a power player, so for me it was important to make my opening run and find the best angles."

When asked why she picked up tennis in a country better known for producing top-level badminton players, she says she was just following her heart.

"I started out trying all kinds of sports and I just found tennis is the most fun. It is the most challenging and I just like it."

Early style icon

Like Hingis, Wozniacki has developed from a tennis prodigy into a favorite of tennis fans worldwide - thanks to a combination of skills, personality and looks. She has been a consistent crowd pleaser and, ever since joining the international tennis circuit at the age of 15, a magnet for fashion labels looking at sports endorsements.

In 2009, she was chosen to become the exclusive face of Adidas' Stella McCartney tennis collection. Her 2010 US Open dress, which barely covered her legs, is probably one of the most revealing outfits worn on tour.

"Every girl likes to look good and I am so lucky to have a special collection of Adidas by Stella McCartney on the court," Wozniacki says. Off the court, she is just like any other young girl. "I think I have a really relaxed style. You know cute tops and nice dresses."

But Wozniacki does not let the fashion frills distract her. Back on court, she is a determined competitor who lets her racquet do the talking.

"The most important thing is to win the matches I am training for. Anything else is a plus."

This year, Wozniacki has won five titles - in Ponte Vedra Beach, Copenhagen, Montreal, New Haven and Tokyo - bringing her lifetime total to 11. Before holding court at the China Open, she boasted a 54-15 win-loss record and had pocketed more than $2 million in prize money this season.

The fly in the ointment is the debate on whether her inability to win a Grand Slam title before ascending to the top spot makes her a lesser player than Serena Williams, who has already won the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year. Wozniacki was in the title match of a Grand Slam tournament only once - at the 2009 US Open final, where she was beaten by the returning Kim Clijsters.

The young woman brushes off the skepticism and says she wants to "enjoy her moment".

"It would be a dream if I can achieve what she (Williams) has achieved. I am young and I can learn from players like Serena."

Other interests

She is still young enough to want to worry about other things - such as the release date of JK Rowling's next Harry Potter book, or if her favorite soccer club Liverpool will win its next match.

"I am so happy. I thought I was never going to read another Harry Potter book," she says, after learning Rowling may continue to write another.

"My favorite character is Hermione Granger because I like the naughty, funny way she has."

She shows her support for Liverpool by donning its colors and staying up late to catch the club's Premier League game on television during the China Open.

And what's her next goal? The elusive Grand Slam title, perhaps?

"That's my next goal for sure. I am still young so I have lots of time ahead of me. I always try to be better each time I am on the court. Better than the last time."

It's hard work being a tennis princess, especially when you need to hold court and the audience's attention.