It seems like just yesterday that we were tuning into the Australian Open for the start of the tennis season and yet all of a sudden a third Grand Slam of the year is just around the corner. One athlete who will be looking to brush the first half of the year under the grass carpet is former World #1 Caroline Wozniacki.
Caroline Wozniacki Seeking to Save Season in Nottingham
The Dane has had a challenging season on the court. Struggling to find form in the first quarter of the year, she was then struck by a troublesome ankle injury which forced her out of the clay season. Tumbling out of the top 20 for the first time since 2008, she is currently down at #34 and facing the daunting prospect of being unseeded at Wimbledon.
As the busy summer months get into full swing, it very much feels like it’s a case of now or never for Caroline Wozniacki to save her season. Hard courts may be her best surface but she has always had a decent record on grass and all eyes were on her comeback match in Nottingham against impressive newcomer Cagla Buyukakcay on Tuesday.
“I normally go out there and want to win from the first tournament, but I haven’t played for over 10 weeks so it has been a while since I’ve been playing matches.”
Few would have been surprised to see Wozniacki suffer defeat at the hands of the Turk given that she has already suffered shock losses to Yulia Putintseva, Elena Vesnina, and Shuai Zhang this year. Wozniacki herself admitted that she was not overly confident heading into the match.
“I want to get back into the rhythm of playing matches and find my form and get into it”, Wozniacki said before her first-round encounter.
“I normally go out there and want to win from the first tournament, but I haven’t played for over 10 weeks so it has been a while since I’ve been playing matches.”
“I’ve been hitting the ball well and practicing well and all these things. I’m excited to be here, it’s my first time here so it is a new experience and it is fun.”
Nice to be back! #slightlyintense #nextonetomorrow ???? pic.twitter.com/OwcZcoK0EM
— Caroline Wozniacki (@CaroWozniacki) June 7, 2016
Wozniacki is not a former World #1 without good reason though and, perhaps to the surprise of some, she came through her opening match of the Nottingham Open 7-5 6-3 against Buyukakcay. Just how big that win may turn out to be we will have to wait and see, but there is a definite feeling that in order to have a strong Wimbledon she needs to produce some more eye-catching results here.
“It felt nice to be back on court,” Wozniacki told reporters after her win.
“There’s always things I’d like to do better, but for a first match back in so many weeks then it’s just great to be back there.”
“It was 10 weeks at home, working hard and trying to get back in good shape and form.
“It feels much more different to play a match than practice, and you feel a little bit sore.
“I just focused on myself and what I needed to do. I had my own game plan in mind, and figured the rest out to win.”
A first round-loss could have had damaging repercussions for the rest of her grass court swing. She has only won three consecutive matches once this season–in Auckland back in January –and if she is to defend her points from her fourth round run at last year’s Wimbledon then she needs plenty more court time.
“There’s always things I’d like to do better, but for a first match back in so many weeks then it’s just great to be back there.”
If she is to rack up three straight victories in the Midlands she is going to have to overcome Anett Kontaveit in the second round. Given the young Estonian’s 2015 on grass that is going to be some task. Kontaveit found her groove in the UK last year, romping to the Eastbourne title as well as reaching the semifinals of both Ilkley and Surbiton to earn a Wimbledon wildcard.
The two have not previously met but given her opponent’s pedigree on grass, a win for Wozniacki on Wednesday would be a major turning point. After admitting to feeling “a little bit sore,” following her victory on Tuesday though, it is going to be an unquestionable challenge.
To leave Nottingham with a trophy packed in her suitcase seems a tall ask for Caroline Wozniacki. Nevertheless, it is vital that the Dane strings some results together if she is to salvage her year. With nearly 400 rankings points to defend over the next month it is make or break time and, although it may not seem it at first glance, Wednesday’s clash with Kontaveit is a year-defining moment.
Caroline Wozniacki vs Anett Kontaveit is third on centre court on Wednesday at the WTA AEGON Trophy in Nottingham.
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