WESTERN & SOUTHERN OPEN

August 15, 2023

Caroline Wozniacki

Press Conference

V. GRACHEVA/C. Wozniacki

6-4, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Caroline, obviously two tight sets. What do you think made the difference today?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Yeah, in general I didn't think I played very well. I think I didn't really find my rhythm. Didn't feel like I played as I could, but, you know, I tried to fight and it was one break in each set. I just didn't return well enough either. I had nine breakpoints and won none of them.

That's just not good enough when you're playing against players on this level. Yeah, we'll have to work on that.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. What have the last 24 hours been like? Preparing to play one opponent, she pulls out, it rains, here on a different court, different opponent you probably aren't all that familiar with. What has that been like?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Yeah, it's definitely a lot different. You're obviously mentally preparing to play against someone that you know very well. I kind of knew what I was going to go out there and do.

It's been a lot of changes, but at the end of the day, you know, you've got to be able to adapt. I didn't adapt very well today. Yeah, that's that.

Q. A full crowd coming to see you. What did you make of the atmosphere at least?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Well, the atmosphere was nice. It's always good to see everyone out there. It was a packed stadium. It's always fun to play on a packed stadium.

But it was also a little strange, because you could hear every other court as well around you. It's much different to play out there, but at the end of the day, you know, it was a nice court and very intimate court.

Q. Two tournaments in. Obviously very fresh off of this match. Where is your head at in terms of how this is all going?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: I still have about 10 days to prepare for the US Open. There is quite a few things that I feel like I need to do better.

I thought last week, I thought I was pretty pleased about where I was. I think this week I don't feel like my timing is exactly where I want it to be, so I'm just going to go back and work hard.

I will stay here for a little while and work hard and just kind of get a bunch of tennis in and put some hours in.

Q. Do you have a familiar setup that you'll have in New York? How excited will you be to be back there?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: I will be so excited to be back in New York. I love playing there. I like the atmosphere. It's a special tournament for me. I have played well there in the past.

Yeah, very excited to go there and play at my first Grand Slam in a long time.

Q. Given the kind of game that you have played, how consistent you can be, how athletic you are, it felt like when you first announced your comeback there was a lot of opportunity for you to make a big splash. Do you feel that expectation from everyone else? From yourself? What's your sense of it?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: I believe in myself, and I believe that I can. Obviously it's just taking me a little bit of time just to get used to the matches again and competing in real tournaments (smiling).

But, you know, I don't really feel the expectations from everyone else. I think I have always just been, you know, tough on myself. I'm looking for perfection, which is not possible in this sport, but, you know, just gonna work hard and try and play better and better.

Q. You have had three matches now. How do you feel about them? You said you wanted to find some answers to what you were expecting. Are they positive things?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Yeah, there is a lot of positives I can bring with me, and I think I can learn a lot. Today I feel like, again, I could have played better. There is quite a few things that I know that I need to improve going into the US Open.

I'll do that and just go back on the practice court. Obviously I would have loved to play a couple of more matches here just to really get into that match rhythm. But, you know, it is what it is. There is nothing I can change about that now.

You know, I'm gonna try and see if there are any other girls that are staying here, and we'll try and play some points and try and also just get some rhythm with a hitting partner. Mix it up a little bit.

Q. You also had wind. Is that also good to have, because there are outside conditions that can influence your game and did it influence your game?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: I mean, it's a lot different playing on a big stadium where it's usually shielded and there's not as much going on, and also there's not as much wind and usually it blows one direction. Then playing on the outside courts, there's definitely a difference.

But, you know, you've just got to adapt. You've got to move your feet, you've got to step in and play your game with bigger margins. That's something, because I haven't played that many matches and points in a while, you know, that's something where I wasn't adapting as well as I would have liked.

That's something I definitely need to improve, because New York can be windy, can be hot, it can be cold, can be a bit of everything, rainy. So you need to be able to adapt. I need to find a way to do that better.

Q. Talking about adapting, are you comfortable now with all your routine? You have to go back in a certain routine, and you're the main person. How did that play out?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: I think that's kind of, the routine part of it is pretty straightforward for me. I feel like that's totally fine. It kind of is like riding a bike. I have been there, done that so many times that that's not the difficult part. I'm okay with that.

I just need to find my rhythm, play, as I was saying, just practice a bunch leading up to the US Open and then do better.