HONG KONG: Caroline Wozniacki yesterday called Serena Williams an “inspiration” after she returned to world number one at the record age of 31 -- but said she would think twice about impersonating her again.
Wozniacki, 22, ended 2010 and 2011 on top of the rankings but slipped off the pace last year and now lies 10th.
But the Dane, who has never won a Grand Slam, said she could draw hope from the 15-time major champion who has battled back from injury and illness to reclaim the top spot for the first time in two-and-a-half years.
“I think first of all I’m nine years younger than her because I’m 22! But second of all I think that it’s great,” Wozniacki told reporters by phone ahead of next month’s BNP Paribas Tennis Showdown in Hong Kong.
“She’s a great champion, she has won 15 Grand Slam titles, she’s had an amazing year so she deserves to be world number one.
“Obviously it’s an inspiration because it shows even though she had to fight back after her sickness and everything she went through, that she still came back.”
Wozniacki dismissed the notion that 2012 was a “bad year” despite her best finish at a major tournament being quarter-final appearances at the Australian Open and at the Olympics -- where she lost to Williams, the eventual winner.
“It’s not a year I’d like to forget. It’s still a good year, being number 10 in the world, it’s definitely not a bad year. A lot of players would like to be in my position.
“I’m very proud of the way I’ve been able to play for the past five years and I’ve been in the top 10 for that long as well.”
The Dane ended 2012 in a spot of controversy after imitating Williams at an exhibition match in Brazil by stuffing towels in her shirt and skirt in an attempt to satirise the American’s looks.
But after the stunt received some blow-back, including accusations -- denied by Williams -- that it carried racial undertones, Wozniacki said she would choose her targets more carefully.
“It’s fun to entertain the crowd a little bit but now I’d definitely choose another player next time,” she said.
Meanwhile, Serena may be the oldest player ever to become world number one on the WTA rankings but she is still young enough to match the Grand Slam achievements of two legends, Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert.
Coach Patrick Mouratoglou, who runs a tennis academy, is travelling full-time with Williams, partly in an attempt to guide her path towards these belated goals.
“Her main goal is to win as many Grand Slams as she can, as she feels that she still can,” Mouratoglou said.
“That’s her main motivation and I think she will keep that.
“I don’t think it’s hard, but she needs a few things. She needs to stay healthy first, because at 31 that’s something really difficult,” he said to reporters yesterday.
AFP
