Wow. 36yo Sara Errani comes back to beat Caroline Wozniacki 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 in almost three hours to reach the 2nd round in Madrid against Haddad Maia. Wozniacki wants to make the Olympics but she is running a bit against the clock atm…
Caroline Wozniacki's Olympic Games dream on return starts to go up in smoke after latest early defeat
Tennis ColumnThursday, 25 April 2024 at 15:30
Caroline Wozniacki returned to tennis despite perhaps not needing to given her status in the game and being a former World No.1 and multiple Grand Slam champion. But a fire burned inside including for one specific wish, that she would play in the Olympic Games. In particular, she pencilled in a mixed doubles team with Holger Rune.
But given the specific set of circumstances that Wozniacki needs to even make it into the team, her time is quickly running out. The cut off for the Olympic Games team is mid June and she is not guaranteed anything from here on out. She is unlikely to get direct wildcards for Rome or Roland Garros given that they are mostly given to home hopes and other Grand Slam champions are waiting in the wings.
Her other way of getting in comes through being in the top 56 and being the part of the four that qualify from that country. This is a rule which sees Americans for instance blighted due to the amount they have. But also sees it go down the list further. Wozniacki is currently in 114th and given the small amount of points that those in that portion have, a run in Madrid would've really helped. She lost though to fellow veteran, Sara Errani.
As someone too who doesn't like playing qualifying it seems perhaps to due to her reputation, she may have to in the coming tournaments to even play. The only other chance comes on grass court tournaments with only a few before the cut off. Time is running out and fast.
She also won't benefit unlike Rio 2016 from an exemption. Naomi Osaka and Angelique Kerber as per the ITF currently lead the way as three-time Grand Slam champions. Simona Halep too has put in her paperwork so likely would take one of those spots if for instance Osaka qualified by right.
Decision to snub post US Open play seems to be affecting Olympic dream for Caroline Wozniacki.
But a lot of it is also deep rooted from Wozniacki refusing to play post US Open and also the Middle Eastern swing. Perhaps to save up wildcard chances, she took the rest of 2023 off and then only played Charleston and San Diego in terms of non WTA 1000 tournaments aside from the ASB Classic. Perhaps the right decision for her finding her feet back into tennis, but not when it came to stringing one run together in order to qualify for the Olympic Games. She reached the Quarter-Finals of the Indian Wells Open, but aside from that hasn't endured a huge deal of success despite rising back towards the top 100 at the moment. With the battle on more than ever for wildcards and spots in tournaments, Wozniacki's Olympic dream seems to be going up in smoke.
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