Tennis

Caroline Wozniacki, the former world No. 1, has been making a statement on and off the court at the US Open with her personalized Adidas Z.N.E. zip-up hoodie. The hoodie pays tribute to her illustrious career and her journey as a mother.On the right chest, the hoodie features a "#1" to signify her highest ranking, a silhouette of a trophy to commemorate her 2018 Australian Open victory, and the number 30 to represent her singles titles. On her right sleeve, the names of her children, Olivia and James, are emblazoned, a testament to her dual role as a mother and an athlete.Wozniacki, who retired in 2020, returned to action last summer after giving birth to her two children. She has admitted to experiencing "mom guilt" as she balances motherhood with her tennis career."My kids are there every single day, and I really appreciate it. It's the best job in the world, and I love it," Wozniacki said. "But also, I try to make sure that I am still there as a 100% present mom, while I'm also trying to balance being the best tennis player that I possibly can be."Despite the challenges, Wozniacki has reached the fourth round at the US Open for the second consecutive year. She bowed out to No. 22 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia in the fourth round, but her performance has been a testament to her determination and resilience.Wozniacki's personalized hoodie is not just a fashion statement; it is a symbol of her journey as a woman, a mother, and an athlete. It is a reminder that it is possible to pursue both personal and professional goals with passion and dedication.

Caroline Wozniacki, the former world No. 1, expressed her disappointment on Saturday after her close friend Serena Williams failed to attend her US Open match. Wozniacki, who is celebrating the one-year anniversary of her comeback from maternity leave, had hoped to see Williams in the stands."I'm pretty mad at her for not showing up to my match," Wozniacki joked during her on-court interview. "I think we have to talk about that a little bit later."Wozniacki later confirmed that she had gotten in touch with Williams, who has been one of her closest friends for the past ten years. "I love hanging with her," Wozniacki said after defeating Jessika Ponchet in straight sets. "I love talking to her. You know, I love the support that I get from her, as well."Williams was on the grounds for the first time in 2024, paying tribute to her 2004 denim skirt with a similar look. She caught up with world No. 1 Iga Swiatek and Wozniacki.Although Williams retired from tennis over two years ago, Wozniacki noted that her friend is as busy as ever. "I think when you've been such incredible at something, I think you'll always have the opportunity, you'll always be great at whatever you put your mind to," Wozniacki said.Wozniacki also commented on Williams' demeanor since retiring. "I feel like to me she's always been that upbeat and happy person," she said. "Obviously, we're all in the zone when we're about to compete, and so that's different when you don't play anymore. But at the end of the day, I think she's always been, you know, a happy and outgoing person."While it's unlikely that Williams will ever share the court with anyone other than her sister, Wozniacki hinted at the possibility of a legends doubles exhibition between the two friends in the future.

Tennis Stars Tiafoe and Wozniacki Surprise Fans with Impromptu Quiz ShowThe Cincinnati Open, boasting a rich 125-year history, has witnessed countless memorable moments. This year, fans were treated to a unique surprise when Frances Tiafoe and Caroline Wozniacki transformed into quizmasters, testing their knowledge of the tournament and its players.As fans boarded the official tournament vehicles, they were greeted by the unexpected sight of Tiafoe and Wozniacki. The stars warmly welcomed their guests with selfies, hugs, and handshakes. But the surprises didn't end there.Tiafoe and Wozniacki put the fans' tennis knowledge to the test with a series of questions. They quizzed them on the player with the most Cincinnati titles (Roger Federer, with seven), the tournament's age, and current events on the tour.The fans eagerly answered the questions, demonstrating their deep understanding of the sport. They were rewarded with prizes for their correct answers, including free ice cream and $50 of merchandise credit.This impromptu quiz show was not the first time that players have gone undercover to interact with fans. Earlier this year, Alex de Minaur played a parking attendant, Ons Jabeur gave directions, and Daniil Medvedev sold merchandise at Indian Wells. Wozniacki herself has previously played "Uber driver" for Daria Kasatkina in Charleston."Thank you so much for playing along," Wozniacki said as the fans departed her car. "You guys were so good!"The fans expressed their delight at the unexpected encounter with the tennis stars. They praised Tiafoe and Wozniacki for their humor and engagement, making the Cincinnati Open experience even more memorable.

Elena Rybakina, the reigning Wimbledon champion, is set to face Caroline Wozniacki in a highly anticipated third-round clash. Rybakina, known for her powerful serve and aggressive groundstrokes, is the clear favorite on paper. However, Wozniacki, a former world No. 1, is a seasoned veteran who has proven her resilience time and again. Despite being 33 years old, Wozniacki remains a formidable opponent, as evidenced by her recent victory over Leylah Fernandez.Novak Djokovic, the six-time Wimbledon champion, faces a potential threat in Alexei Popyrin. Popyrin, ranked No. 47 in the world, has a big serve and forehand that could trouble Djokovic. However, Djokovic's experience and superior all-around game make him the heavy favorite. Djokovic has admitted that his right knee is still not fully healed, but he remains confident in his ability to overcome any challenges.Alexander Zverev, the No. 3 seed, will face Cam Norrie in another intriguing third-round matchup. Norrie, a rising star from Great Britain, has been in impressive form this season. He has reached the Wimbledon semi-finals in the past and will be looking to make a deep run again this year. Zverev, however, is a formidable opponent with a powerful serve and heavy groundstrokes. Norrie will need to play at his best to have a chance of upsetting the German.

The Bad Homburg Open powered by Solarwatt witnessed a thrilling encounter between Elina Svitolina and Caroline Wozniacki, which was unfortunately suspended due to darkness. Svitolina was leading 3-6, 7-6 (4), 2-1 when the match was halted.The match began with Wozniacki taking the first set, but Svitolina fought back to win the second in a tiebreaker. In the deciding set, Svitolina broke Wozniacki's serve and was on the verge of extending her lead when the match was suspended.Svitolina and Wozniacki have a long history, having faced off five times before their respective maternity leaves. Svitolina holds a 4-1 advantage in their head-to-head record.Both players returned to action last summer, with Svitolina reaching the quarterfinals of Roland Garros and Wimbledon, while Wozniacki reached the second week of the US Open. However, injuries and inconsistencies have plagued both players since the start of 2024.Svitolina has been struggling with a back injury since returning to play, while Wozniacki has faced stamina issues. Wozniacki was not offered a wild card into Roland Garros, and she lost in the first round of the Rothesay Classic in Birmingham.Svitolina was playing her first match since losing in the fourth round of Roland Garros, and she struggled early against Wozniacki. However, she found her rhythm in the second set and forced a tiebreaker.In the tiebreaker, Svitolina took an early lead and converted her first set point with a searing forehand putaway.The third set began with Wozniacki threatening to break Svitolina's serve, but Svitolina dug out of a 0-30 deficit. However, Wozniacki suffered a fall and grabbed her left hip, leading to an off-court medical timeout.After the timeout, Wozniacki returned to the court but was unable to prevent Svitolina from breaking her serve. The match was then suspended due to darkness.The match will resume on Center Court Tuesday, with Svitolina looking to close out the victory and advance to the next round.

Caroline Wozniacki's return to red clay after retirement hit a roadblock at the 2024 Mutua Madrid Open. The former world No. 1 fell to Sara Errani in a grueling three-set battle, 3-6, 7-5, 7-5.Wozniacki, who retired in 2020, made her comeback last summer with the Olympic Games in mind. However, her hopes of a medal on her least preferred surface suffered a setback against Errani, a former Roland Garros finalist.Despite winning the first set, Wozniacki struggled to close out the match. She squandered a break point in the eighth game of the second set, allowing Errani to break back and eventually level the match.In the decider, Errani maintained the pressure, breaking Wozniacki's serve early on. Wozniacki fought back to level the set at 4-4, but Errani's relentless return game proved too much. The Italian clinched the victory on her second match point, after attempting an underarm serve on her first.Wozniacki's defeat highlights her struggles in closing matches this season. Half of her losses have come after winning the first set, including at the Australian Open and Miami Open.Despite her setback, Wozniacki has enjoyed success at the Caja Magica in the past, reaching the final in 2009 and the quarterfinals in 2015. She will now turn her attention to the grass-court season, where she has had more success.Errani, meanwhile, advances to the second round, where she will face No. 11 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia.

Daria Kasatkina and her girlfriend Natalia Zabiiako have released the latest episode of their joint vlog, which features a candid interview with former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka. The episode, which Kasatkina has declared the "best ... so far!" delves into the world of clay-court tennis and reveals a humorous anecdote about Roger Federer.Azarenka, who had previously invited herself onto the vlog, shared her insights on clay-court play and recounted a funny story from the Mutua Madrid Open in 2012, when the tournament experimented with blue clay. She also revisited her famous match against Kasatkina at the 2020 Internazionali BNL d'Italia, where she comforted Kasatkina after she rolled her ankle in the first-set tiebreak."After this injury, you managed to recover and play so quickly! People don't know this! These are the stories that need to be told!" Azarenka exclaimed. "You need to tell people such life stories. They can help children, for example, because they don't know."The episode also features a visit from Caroline Wozniacki, who shared a video of their memorable ride from the airport to the tournament's player hotel. Jennifer Brady, who recently underwent a second knee surgery, provided an update on her recovery while meeting Kasatkina for breakfast on crutches. Paula Badosa took a nostalgic trip down memory lane, showing a photo of herself and Kasatkina from their youth."In Facebook, I have you as my sister ... from when we were 13 years old!" Badosa said.The nearly 90-minute episode offers a glimpse into the lives of these tennis stars, providing insights into their on-court experiences and personal journeys.

Simona Halep's Miami Wild Card Sparks Debate on Doping and Fair PlaySimona Halep's successful appeal for a wild card entry into the Miami Open has reignited the debate on the role of doping in professional tennis. Former world No. 1 Kim Clijsters and Andy Roddick discussed the issue on their podcast, "Served with Andy Roddick."Clijsters expressed support for Halep, who tested positive for a banned substance in 2022 but claimed it was an unintentional ingestion. "Halep's situation is completely different," Clijsters said. "She tested positive unknowingly."However, former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki voiced her disapproval of the tournament's decision to grant Halep a wild card. "She was very cautious when she said it, but basically she doesn't believe people who have doped should be back and be given wild cards," Roddick said.Roddick disagreed with Wozniacki, arguing that Halep's presence in the tournament was good for business. "It's a business, and you want [Halep] as a storyline," he said.Clijsters acknowledged the complexity of the issue. "When someone tests positive for taking something to become a better athlete, then I one hundred percent agree with Caroline," she said. "But Halep's situation is different."The debate also touched on Halep's previous comments about Maria Sharapova, who received a wild card after serving a doping suspension in 2017. Halep had said at the time that she believed dopers should not be allowed wild cards."Her saying something about Maria in the past shows her vision of how she looks at doping and that she's not a cheater," Clijsters said. "In [Halep's] mind, she didn't cheat, and I do believe that."The podcast also discussed the broader issue of doping in tennis and the sport's meticulous drug testing protocols. They also touched on the recent $2 billion Saudi Arabia deal on the table for the ATP Tour and the potential implications for the sport.

Anhelina Kalinina's remarkable comeback against Caroline Wozniacki at the Miami Open on Thursday showcased the Ukrainian's resilience and determination. Trailing 5-7, 5-4, and facing a match point, Kalinina rallied to win the final five games of the second set and ultimately triumph 5-7, 7-5, 6-4.Wozniacki, a former world number one who retired in 2020, returned to tennis last year after giving birth to two children. Despite reaching the quarterfinals in Indian Wells earlier this month, she was forced to retire against Iga Swiatek due to a foot injury.In other women's matches, Beatriz Haddad Maia overcame a slow start to defeat Diane Parry 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, while Katie Boulter advanced when Brenda Fruhvirtova retired from their match. Maria Sakkari, Taylor Townsend, Anna Kalinskaya, and Madison Keys also secured victories.On the men's side, Kei Nishikori's return to the ATP Tour after a lengthy absence ended in a 6-3, 6-4 defeat to Sebastian Ofner. The 12-time ATP Tour champion admitted to feeling the difference between practice and match play.Felix-Auger Aliassime, a Canadian hardcourt specialist, defeated Adam Walton 7-5, 6-4. The 32 seeded players received first-round byes, with Aryna Sabalenka, the No. 2 seed in the women's draw, set to face Paula Badosa on Friday.