Rothesay Classic Birmingham 2024: Caroline Wozniacki makes highly awaited return to grass
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Former world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki will play her first grass-court match in five years after receiving a wildcard for the Rothesay Classic Birmingham.
Wozniacki’s entry into the main draw marks only her second time playing at the Edgbaston Priory Club after debuting in 2016, and her first time on grass since reaching the third round of Wimbledon three years later.
“It feels great to be back and to be on the grass,” said the former Grand Slam champion.
I knew from a young age [the grass] would always hold a special place.”
“I love playing on this surface, and I have since I was playing Juniors. I knew from a young age it would always hold a special place.”
The 33-year-old returned to the Tour in 2023 after taking a three-year hiatus, in which time she became a mother of two to children Olivia (born June 2021) and James (October 2022).
Speaking on how she’s juggled her return to Tour and motherhood, Wozniacki said, “[Tour] is definitely different now I have kids.
“There’s more planning that goes into it and you have a lot less free time, but it’s even more special having the kids watch me play and compete.
“To be able to share this with my whole family has been a highlight and I’m so grateful.”
Billed as one of the most defensive players to ever reach world No.1, Wozniacki has enjoyed an illustrious career to date, rising to prominence after making her Grand Slam debut at the 2007 Roland Garros.
Her maiden appearance in Paris prefaced the beginning of an emphatic run of form by the Dane, competing in 36 successive majors until her streak was stunted by her withdrawal from the 2016 French Open due to an ankle injury.
Only Venus Williams and Petra Kvitova are among the other active players to own more than 30 titles.
The dawn of her dominating era led her to hold the No.1 ranking for 67 weeks after unseating superstar Serena Williams on October 11, 2010.
In 2018, six years after her reign, she broke her Grand Slam duck, winning the Australian Open to top the rankings once again.
Outside the WTA circuit, Wozniacki represented country at the Olympics on three different occasions between 2008 and 2016, reaching as far as the quarter-finals at the 2012 London Olympics.
In her third Olympic appearance, the then 28-year-old became the first Danish tennis player to be appointed as flagbearer during the Parade of Nations in 2016.
Despite announcing her retirement in 2020, four years after contesting in Rio, Wozniacki confirmed her return to the professional game in June 2023.
She since progressed to the fourth round of the US Open for a seventh time, just two months after announcing her return, whilst also booking a quarter-final at the WTA Masters 1000 Indian Wells in March.
...to be able to do this with my family feels even more special.
Touching on her recent form, Wozniacki added, “I feel like I’m playing some good tennis, and to be able to do this with my family feels even more special.”
Entering the Rothesay Classic Birmingham sat just outside of the top 100, Wozniacki is slated to play the world No.31, Belgium’s Elise Mertens, in the opening round.
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