Close friends, two of the returning mothers on the WTA Tour and both making strides in one of their best tournaments since returning at Indian Wells and now set to collide or so we thought as reports have come out that Caroline Wozniacki is in doubt for her clash with Angelique Kerber tomorrow.
As per Diego Barbiani of OK Tennis, Wozniacki was seen on the morning of March 11th arriving at Indian Wells around 9:30am which is only around half an hour before as of time of writing accompanied by her husband David Lee with a grimace on her face and of someone who looked like they were previously crying. She was struggling to walk supported by her husband who held her arm and a patch was seen on the achilles, but this may not be related.
Wozniacki won in three sets yesterday against Katie Volynets, while Kerber took down Veronika Kudermetova. But it seems that it will be a race against time and one that could even be dictated shortly for Wozniacki to play the tie or not. It is the first Last 16 for Wozniacki since Beijing 2019.
Kerber as a result could get a walkover through to her first Quarter-Final since returning, but there will be hope for fans of the pair that Wozniacki's injury is more just tenderness and fatigue from her match against Volynets as opposed to anything serious. Two former rivals, former World No.1's and most of all friends set to face off again and if reports are to be confirmed, it could be a match we do not get on Tuesday.
If Wozniacki does withdraw, Kerber could face Iga Swiatek in the Quarter-Finals who will face Yulia Putintseva also on Tuesday. The German has already faced off against Swiatek this season with an early defeat in one of her first matches back at the United Cup.