“I think it’s over”: Caroline Wozniacki hints her comeback chapter may be closed

Caroline Wozniacki reappeared in an interview on Nothing Major — alongside John Isner and Sam Querrey — where she spoke about her return to the courts after three and a half years away from tennis, and about the new break she has taken in her career in 2025, following the announcement of her third pregnancy with husband David Lee.

The former World No.1 first retired in 2020 and made her comeback at the end of 2023 — already 33 years old — competing in several tournaments throughout the 2024 season. However, she revealed late in the year that she was expecting her third child and decided to take another break, though she hasn’t completely clarified whether this will be a permanent retirement or if she’s still considering one final return to the tennis courts.

“I almost didn’t touch a racket for three years,” she said on the Nothing Major podcast. “Maybe twice — before, during, and after I had Olivia. But after I had James, I wanted to get back in shape, so I thought, let’s just hit once a week, for fun.”

The comeback was never just about winning again. “We decided to travel with the kids, let them see what I do, and make memories together,” she explained. Life on tour now means early mornings, school routines, and practice sessions that must fit around family life. “Even if I’m tired or sick, I always show up. Maybe I’ll do something lighter, but I’ll be there. I’m a little psycho that way — very regimented. Bedtime at 7:30, bath at 7 — that’s how it goes. Everyone thrives on structure.”

The Danish player spoke about the possibility of returning to the courts—now at 35 years old—or whether her break over the past year is already definitive. “No, I think it’s over,” she said, although she didn’t completely rule out the chance of a surprise comeback in the future, admitting that a return would be complicated. “I still have a lot of time to decide. If I think I can get myself back in shape, never say never. But with three small children, it’s already a full-time job,” she explained on the podcast.

When Wozniacki finally reached the top of the rankings, she was just 20 years old. Eight years later, she would win her first major at the Australian Open — a long gap that became one of her defining storylines. But for her, both achievements mattered equally. “I think I wanted to do both,” she said. “Everyone wants both. But once I became No.1, my next thing was, okay, I haven’t won a major yet — now I want a major.”

“Generally speaking, I think being No.1 should be harder to achieve than winning a Grand Slam. To win a Slam, you just need to be at your best for two weeks — and anyone can have two magical weeks where they play the tennis of their life. But to be No.1, you have to be consistent for a full year. That’s a lot harder to do.”

That consistency, more than any single title, became her calling card. For 71 weeks, Wozniacki stayed at the top — through surfaces, seasons, and generations – as she won 30 titles during her career.

Her Grand Slam triumph in Melbourne nearly didn’t happen at all. “I was down a set and 5–1, 40–15 in the second round,” she recalled. “I somehow came back to win that match, and after that I felt like I was playing with house money.” That comeback changed her mindset completely. “Funny enough, during the final I was actually pretty calm. I knew my opponent well, I was playing well, and after surviving match points early in the tournament, I just thought, whatever happens, happens.”

The conditions were brutal, but Wozniacki remembers the moment with a smile. “It was insanely hot — 88 degrees when we started, and it just kept getting hotter and more humid. We were both exhausted. In the end, I remember thinking, let’s just figure out who wins so we can go home.”

After her opponent went to the hospital for an IV drip, Wozniacki stayed up celebrating. “I ended up partying until four or five in the morning — and then I had my trophy photoshoot at eight a.m. I don’t know why I thought that was a good idea. I definitely regretted that.”