AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 17, 2024

Caroline Wozniacki

Press Conference

M. TIMOFEEVA/C. Wozniacki

1-6, 6-4, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Caroline, obviously a tough battle out there today. Can you just give us your overall thoughts on the match.

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Yeah, I think I had a pretty good start to the match. Obviously up 6-1, 2-Love, chances for 3-Love. I played well, kind of was in control of the points, I felt like I was taking time away from her. Didn't get the 3-Love break, and all of a sudden 2-1, she starts getting more into the match, and I gave her a little chance and she started playing better.

All of a sudden, you know, I found myself not being able to finish off the points as easily. She got to a lot more balls and, you know, hit the right shots when she needed to. Hit some good lines, some good shots, some good defense when she needed to do that.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. I would like to ask you to elaborate a little bit more on the difference between, like, the first set and then the second and the third. Seemed like in the first set, as you said, seemed like you were very focused and you weren't very head on, but then in the second, it seemed like something happened. Would you say that you dropped focus, did you become physically tired or mentally? How would you describe the process?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: I don't think I lost focus. You know, you also have to give credit sometimes to your opponent. She started playing better.

You know, she played at a very high level today. I don't know what she normally plays like, but I think she played very well.

You know, I did my best. I was out there fighting. I didn't feel like I was playing bad. You know, again, had I gotten the game to 3-Love, I think we're in a different situation. But I didn't. All of a sudden, you know, we had a lot of long rallies. It could have gone both ways.

But it went her way today in the second set. And the third, again, I just, I don't really know what much I could have done differently. You know, maybe some of my backhands down the line, but then now we're nitpicking, as well.

Q. You spoke earlier in the week, or maybe it was last week, about all the work that's involved for you to get to this point, whether it's getting your body to this point or juggling your kids. When you have a disappointment like that, do you experience it differently than you might have in your previous time in pro tennis? Does your mind immediately go to, you know, Oh, what am I doing this for?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: I mean, I would like to say that my mind, I can just kind of brush it under the carpet, but it sucks just as much. You know, losing now and losing back then, it doesn't really change. As a competitor you want to win everything.

You know, when you have the family here and you bring everyone, you want to win even more because you want to stay longer and not have to move around.

It definitely sucks and it's disappointing. I felt like this was my match to win, and I didn't. I obviously sit here with a very disappointing feeling, because, you know, looking back, I feel like the match kind of slid out of my hands. At this point, there's nothing I can do about it, but obviously playing a Grand Slam and, you know, you want to keep winning.

Q. I think that was Maria's second-ever Grand Slam or major match. She's one of this big group of young Russians who all seem to be coming through at the same time and seemingly kind of fearless. As someone who came through as a teenager, as well, what that feels like, and if it changes as you get more experience in the game. Do you develop fear as you get older?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Is she a teenager, as well?

Q. Maria is 20. Mirra who beat Ons is only 16.

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Mirra, obviously I think everyone knows about her. She's playing extremely well and fearless. She came on tour I think similar age to me.

I think it's different when you're 20, but obviously things change as well. You know, a lot of players play a lot longer and their careers are longer and the body is, you know, taken care of in a different way.

But yeah, I think that's kind of what it's always been, right? You have the young ones coming up, you have the older generation, you have kind of in between. Kind of tennis moves on (smiling).

Q. I too suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, and the weather conditions today are giving me quite a bit of grief. Wondering if it's having any effect on you today?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: It's part of our lives and it is what it is. I'm not going to blame that on my loss today. You know, I was out there feeling like I fought my hardest, and that was it. You know, you try your best, and every day is different. But, you know, today just I came up just a bit short.

Q. I was very impressed with the way you were moving on a day like today. You seemed very light on your feet. All credit to you.

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Thank you very much.

Q. Iga spoke about it yesterday but I was wondering if you're happy to comment on Rafael Nadal becoming an ambassador of tennis in Saudi Arabia, whether you have any concerns about the WTA Finals being held there.

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Honestly, I haven't read much up on Rafa and what he's doing, but obviously Saudi is coming into sports in a very strong way. I think both in golf and football or soccer and now in tennis.

I think it's inevitable that that's going to happen, and I think when that does happen, I think we have a chance to make a change and do something good there.

I obviously realize, you know, the human rights and everything else, but I think when it's inevitable that they have so much money to put into sports, I think when you're put in that situation, you can maybe change, make a change and do something positive.

Q. What are your plans schedule-wise in terms of -- how far ahead this year have you looked? Obviously you're very strong on hard courts. What are your choices you're going to make over the next few months?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: That's a good question. I was planning on being here for a while longer, so honestly I don't know right now. I need to just kind of swallow this loss and then kind of go from there, see how I feel, what I want to do. Yeah, honestly, I don't know right now.