Clay form crucial as Wozniacki eyes Olympics

Caroline Wozniacki’s return to the national team this month didn’t quite go to plan, but the former world No. 1 is still dreaming of earning a place at the Olympic Tennis Event in Paris on 28 July.

Wozniacki lost all seven games before retiring unwell against Sinja Kraus during Denmark’s Billie Jean King Cup defeat to Austria earlier this month in her first appearance for her country in nine years.

That follows her retirement against Iga Swiatek in Indian Wells in March, and second round exits to Anhelina Kalinina at both Miami and Charleston.

Wozniacki returned to the tour last August with two kids in tow after three-and-a-half years away from the sport, with the Olympic Games being a significant motivating factor for her comeback.

"One of the reasons I came back was to play at the Olympics,” she said. “I’m very proud of coming back. I have nothing to prove, I love what I do.”

The Dane reached the fourth round at last September’s US Open in the third event of her comeback, falling to eventual champion Coco Gauff in three sets, and reached the quarter-finals at Indian Wells, but has struggled for consistent form.

That in part, is perhaps due to a more sporadic competition schedule than during the height of her career.

“When I decided to come back I knew I wasn't going to play every week,” she said. “I have rheumatoid arthritis so I have to take care of my schedule.

“I'm playing Madrid [this week]. I haven't played on clay in a long time. I'm comfortable moving on hardcourt and grass, but clay is different."

Though twice a quarter-finalist at Roland Garros – in 2010 and 2017 – Wozniacki knows she has work to do on clay over few weeks to give herself a chance of competing at the Olympic Tennis Event.

Currently the world No. 118, Wozniacki’s best hope of qualifying for Paris 2024 is to be one of the 56 direct acceptances into the women’s singles draw per the Olympic cut-off on 10 June.

Two ITF places are available into each of the men’s and women’s singles draws for Grand Slam/Olympic champions, but Wozniacki is one of a handful of former Grand Slam champions currently ranked outside the top 100 - including the likes of Angelique Kerber, Naomi Osaka, Simona Halep, Emma Raducanu and Bianca Andreescu – who could be vying for that place.

As three-time Grand Slam champions, Kerber and Osaka currently head the list for entry into the Games by that route if they do not qualify by ranking.

Wozniacki has competed in three Olympic Games, reaching the third round at Beijing 2008, the quarter-finals at London 2012, and round two at Rio 2016. 

Asked whether she'd prefer to win a Grand Slam or an Olympic medal this year, the 33-year-old grinned and said: "At this point in time I’d take either!

"I think a Grand Slam is a Grand Slam obviously,… but for me personally I would love to get an Olympic medal, because I don’t have one.

"Another Grand Slam would be very special, but so would an Olympic medal. I’ll take either, I’m not going to be picky on that one!"