"I've always separated myself a bit from that" - Tauson shuts down Wozniacki comparisons after defeating Swiatek at Canadian Open

Clara Tauson has started to make an impact in the sport after some impressive results, which have led her to be compared to fellow Dane and former Grand Slam champion Caroline Wozniacki. Tauson did not think too much of these claims as she looks to carry on her run in the Canadian Open.

In Montreal, she has continued the good form that has propelled her to a career-high ranking of 19th in the world. She got the better of Italian Lucia Bronzetti 6-1, 6-2 before overcoming Ukrainian Yuliia Starodubtseva 6-3, 6-0.

It would then be a repeat of the Wimbledon round-of-16 match against the champion Iga Swiatek, who is playing in her first event after tasting triumph on grass. The 22-year-old caused shock waves in the tennis world after delivering a huge upset, defeating the six-time Grand Slam winner 7-6, 6-3.

This win has booked her place in the quarter-finals of the Canadian Open, with another tough test against the reigning Australian Open winner, Maddison Keys.

For Tauson to be compared to Wozniacki is a ridiculously high praise. The former world number one has been in the spotlight of Danish tennis for many years, from a nation that is not known for tennis. Tauson is the next in line to carry the nation's expectations, along with Holger Rune on the men's side.

Tauson's recent form has led to these claims to occur, but she is not taking any notice of them, revealing that she has 'separated' herself from that, while also recognising the influence and impact she made in Denmark.

"I think I've always separated myself a bit from that," Tauson said after her win over Swiatek. "Because I mean, obviously Caroline, she's one of the biggest influences in Danish tennis obviously because we're such a small country, and nobody really cares about tennis."

She also doubles down on these claims, saying that they both have very different playing styles, before going on to talk about the lack of Danish juniors who make it to the top level.

"But I think we're two very, very different playing styles, and I've always said that from a young age," she said. "I don't feel like I've had any kind of pressure like that. We've had some good juniors in the years after also. They never really made it here."

Now up to world number 19, Tauson has had quite a rise in these recent months. At the start of the year, she won the Auckland Open, before reaching her first Masters 1000 final at the Dubai Tennis Championships, losing out to Mirra Andreeva.

Big wins over big names have followed, which includes world number one Aryna Sabalenka in Dubai, Elena Rybakina at Wimbledon and most recently, Swiatek. She has become a real threat in the eyes of many tennis players, and still has more space to improve, being only 22 years old.

Despite this, she still remembers how special it was to break into the top 100 for the first time four years ago. She did that through winning her first WTA title in Lyon, before tasting success in Luxembourg. She was the second youngest player in the top 100, with only American number one Coco Gauff younger.

On getting into the top 100, Tauson said: "Even just getting to the top 100 was a win for me when I was, like, 18 years old. So now it's falling a bit more into place, my game and the mentality part. So I think I just needed a little bit of time."