"Bullied me for 20 years": Caroline Wozniacki blasts TV pundit over retirement remarks

Former World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki responded to criticism from Danish commentator Peter Bastiansen, after the Danish television pundit criticized the former Australian Open champion for not announcing whether she has decided to end her career or not.

The Danish tennis player has once again paused her career, after announcing her pregnancy and the subsequent birth of her third child, Max, born in July 2025. Wozniacki was on the Tour for parts of 2023 and 2024, marking her return to the courts, but chose to take a new break following her pregnancy, without clarifying whether this would mean her retirement or if she would return to the courts.

It should be recalled that the Dane first retired from professional activity in 2020, at the age of 29, once the Australian Open was finished. She was off the courts for three and a half years – a period in which she became a mother twice, and surprised in 2023 by announcing her return to the courts for a second stage in her career.

Wozniacki had several good performances, reaching the 4th round of the US Open in 2023 and 2024, as well as the quarter-finals of Indian Wells. The former World No. 1 – currently 35 years old – played her last match precisely at the US Open in September 2024, where she fell to the Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia.

The Danish outlet B.T. shared an interview with tennis commentator Peter Bastiansen, who criticized the uncertainty regarding Wozniacki's next step, and whether she will return to the courts. “I can’t understand why she doesn’t announce it. I mean, what’s the point of not doing so? She’s never, ever coming back to top-level tennis. That ship has sailed. Why doesn’t she just say it? There’s nothing wrong or unnatural about that,” he said. “All great sports stars make such announcements, so I just don’t get it.”

“I’ll fall off my chair if she declares herself ready for the Australian Open in January. It would be a parody if she did. It would simply be deeply unserious. I can’t see why the organisers would even bother to give her a wildcard,” said the TV 2 commentator, before concluding.

The TV commentator's words reached Wozniacki herself, who strongly criticized the commentator's remarks, which according to the former World No. 1, has been attacking her for the last two decades, as she posted on her social media. “It’s now been more than 20 years that Peter Bastiansen has bullied me and attacked me personally in the media, talking about things he doesn’t understand.”

“Peter, you’re a clown, and as a so-called ‘tennis expert’ you should know the rules. It can be hard to keep track of them when you’ve never played at a high level yourself,” the 2018 Aussie Open champion added. “But I have a frozen ranking of world No. 71, which means I don’t need wildcards to enter the big tournaments.”

“After many years of hard training and top-level tennis, I have the right to do what’s best for my family,” she added. “I don’t understand why TV 2, B.T., and other media outlets keep using his quotes when there are many far better experts in Denmark.”

Meanwhile, the same media outlet reproduced Wozniacki's response and Bastiansen's return comments, who did not want to delve further into the controversy with the legendary Danish tennis player. “I won’t get into a war of words. I’ve said my piece before, and now she’s said hers — and she has every right to do so,” he said.

Wozniacki – currently 35 years old – has a total of 30 WTA titles in a total of 55 finals. Highlights include the 2017 WTA Finals – defeating Venus Williams in the final – and the 2018 Australian Open – overcoming Simona Halep. She also has a total of six WTA 1000 titles and 61 wins against top-10 players.