C aroline Wozniacki (Odense, 1990) played her last professional match at the last Australian Open . In the last two years of his career, he had to live with rheumatoid arthritis. The Danish, ambassador of chronic inflammatory diseases, reviews her career in MARCA.
You retired this year at the conclusion of the Australian Open and then came the pandemic. How have you lived all this period after your goodbye from tennis ? After Australia I went with my husband to New Zealand. We spent a few weeks there. I always wanted to explore that country and not knowing when I will return to that part of the world, it was time to do so. We returned to Mnaco and then we went with the whole family to Kilimanjaro. When we were in full swing, the global pandemic was announced. We reached the top and returned to the United States, to Saint Luis, the hometown of David, my husband. We stayed for 11 weeks before returning to Europe for three months. I was able to enjoy things for a while that I couldn’t do while playing. Professional tennis returned in August. Did I miss playing again then? I was watching the US Open on television, but perhaps due to the fact of the bubble or the absence of fans, at no time did I feel that I should be there. I love tennis , but in full stadiums. Many of his fellow professionals left him temporarily to be mothers and then returned to the WTA. Is there an option for Caroline to take the same path in the future? I don’t think so, but crazier things have happened in this life, so I’ll never say never. Right now what I want is to live in a relaxed way. Are you watching a lot of games? Roland Garros I did not see it. I only looked at the US Open. You are a well-known friend of Serena Williams. Are you surprised that someone who has won 23 ‘Grand Slam’ puts such pressure to win another one and tie Margaret Court’s record? Everyone hopes that at least one more will win. It is obvious that he has the game to achieve it, but it will not be easy because there are many girls who play well. Even if she doesn’t win it, she has already shown that she is the best tennis player in history. We can feel lucky to have seen her play in our day. What was the most important victory of your career? There have been many special moments and games. Of course, the day I won and became world number one and when I prevailed in Australia. But I have many memories: the first tournament in Stockholm, winning after fighting so much in Montreal … I also enjoyed small events like Charleston. You were on the list of number one who hadn’t made a big one until they did in 2018 in Australia in 2018. Was it a slab? I had already played other finals and I felt favorite against Simona because we had played the previous summer and she had beaten her very well. We were both very nervous, but then I calmed down. It is said that it is difficult to have friends on the circuit because of the rivalry. Have you left many? I feel lucky to be able to say that I have quite a few. I keep in touch with many of them. I think it’s a nice thing to build good friendships when you travel so much and play so many tournaments. Who do you have contact with? With the sisters Aga and Ursula Radwanska, with Kerber, Vekic or Karolina Pliskova, whom I see often when she is in Mnaco. The last one I spoke with was Carla Surez when I found out about her illness. He’s a great person and I wanted to make sure he was okay. We are like a small family and we are always available if the other needs us. Two years ago she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. How did your life change? Of course I changed it. She became a new Caroline. One day you want to get out of bed and you can’t even move. You are one of the best tennis players in the world, renowned for your athletic ability, and you don’t move. It was a shock not even being able to move my arms. I found a good rheumatologist and now I live a normal life within my limits. Sometimes the disease can, but in others I am the one who defeats it. I am happy helping people learn exactly what rheumatoid arthritis is. When it took so long to find a true diagnosis, I decided that I was going to help as needed because it can affect anyone, young or old. Was this wrong a handicap at the end of his career? I never saw him as a handicap. He won the title in Beijing and played very well in the Masters. You have to learn to live with it. As a tennis player you want to be at your highest level all the time and sometimes it is not possible. I saw it as a way to improve myself. Couldn’t he train or play so many tournaments? Exact. I had to listen to my body. Sometimes I would get up and it didn’t feel right. The solution was to rest for a day. In the end, I learned to handle it. Do you have to take any kind of medication? Each person is different and it is the doctor who tells you what to do. Can you explain how much time you spend raising awareness of rheumatoid arthritis? We do many things whether through social media, interviews or conferences. When did you decide you wanted to quit tennis after Australia? It was something that I was talking about with my family and my husband. One day we sat down and I decided it was time to do something different. His father Piotr always accompanied him as his coach. Did you try to convince him to stay active longer? My father is the best. She was a little nervous for him because she had to find another job after spending so many years with me. He understood me and told me that I had to do what I wanted with my life. That the decision was mine. In almost every ‘Grand Slam’ there is a new champion. How do you interpret it? This season, in particular, is strange because of everything that is going on. It was not known if he would play again, in some countries you can train and in others you cannot. We’ll see what happens when the scheduled schedule can be played normally. Does the WTA lack a rivalry like the one between Nadal, Federer and Djokovic? In girls there have also been great rivalries in the past and we have Serena, who is the icon on our circuit. I believe that a new generation of tennis players is coming, capable of taking over. Nadal has just won Roland Garros for the thirteenth time. Find words to define that feat? It is unbelievable. Under normal conditions it will be something impossible to achieve, but Rafa has taught us that believing in it and with hard work, everything is possible. It is truly inspiring what the best can do. Daria Kasatkina commented that she was crying as she saw Nadal get excited to lift the trophy again. It was a very special image. Talking about five, six or seven titles is spectacular. Time passes and keep winning. You maintain a good relationship with Pau Gasol because of the friendship that unites you with your partner, with whom you shared a dressing room in San Antonio. You know how long you’ve been injured. How much would you like him to retire on a basketball court? Pau loves basketball and has done a lot for his sport. He has played many years at a high level in the NBA , winning rings, and also when he has defended Spain. It will be nice to see you play other Games. If he has the chance to play he will do it well for sure. In the debate over which ‘Big Three’ player is the best ever, who does he stay with? It is a complicated answer. Maybe right now, with Federer. We have to see what happens in the next few years. I think both Nadal, Djokovic and Roger deserve that qualifier. Tennis will miss them when they retire. .
