Australian Open 2024: Caroline Wozniacki ‘dreams’ of title after first-round win over Magda Linette – ‘Why not me?’

She might be playing the Australian Open for the first time in four years, but Caroline Wozniacki is dreaming big.

The 2018 champion is back at the home of her lone Grand Slam success after coming out of a three-and-a-half-year retirement last summer.

That was not fully put to the test in her opening match in Melbourne as opponent Magda Linette retired after 55 minutes due to injury.

Wozniacki was 6-2 2-0 ahead when the 20th seed withdrew.

“I felt I played really well,” said Wozniacki, who next faces 20-year-old qualifier Maria Timofeeva.

“I tried to take the ball early, tried to be aggressive. I still feel my serve could be a little better but hopefully in the next match that’s going to happen.

“And otherwise, I just feel so at home out here, this court brings back amazing memories and playing in front of all of you amazing people is so, so special to me.”

Former world No. 1 Wozniacki beat Simona Halep to win the 2018 Australian Open.

While it would be a shock to see her lift the trophy for a second time this month given this is her fifth tournament since returning to the tour, Wozniacki is aiming high.

“The dream is to win it obviously,” she said.

“I’ve worked hard to be here, to be back at this stage – I didn’t think I’d be back here.

“It’s really a bonus, I’m just really grateful to be out here but I really feel like I’m playing well so why not me?”

Wozniacki stepped away from tennis after the 2020 Australian Open and had two children.

She was also diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, a condition which can cause joint pain, swelling and stiffness, in 2018 and says she still has days where her “body says no”.

“It was definitely a tough diagnosis to get, I felt young, healthy, a professional athlete – that can’t happen to me,” she said.

“I had to change my lifestyle, even though it was already healthy as a professional athlete, I still had to step up and make sure everything I do every day with proper preparation and cool downs.

“You know, there are great days and some days where your body says no and you have to accept that, but I hope that coming out with my diagnosis I can help others and make them believe that whatever their dreams are, they can make them happen too.”

Linette made the semi-finals at the Australian Open last year but is set for a ranking drop as she won’t defend the points from that run.

“It’s never nice to see that,” said Wozniacki.

“Magda’s a good friend of mine, I’ve known her for so many years, I obviously followed her last year and [saw] how well and unbelievable she was playing here so I knew coming into today’s match that it was going to be a very tough one.”

“This is not how I wanted to finish it, and I really hope that it’s not too serious and that she’ll recover soon.”