Mats Wilander excited for Caroline Wozniacki return and Olympic partnership with Holger Rune
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Updated 20/03/2024 at 16:11 GMT
Former world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki is set to return to singles tennis after retiring in 2020 and has the US Open in her sights. The 33-year-old also hopes to pair up with Danish compatriot Holger Rune in the Olympics mixed doubles competition next year in Paris, which Eurosport tennis expert Mats Wilander is a big fan of. “How cool would that be? There’s no way he’s not going to say yes!”
'She must be in such a great state of mind' - Wilander on Wozniacki comeback to tennis
Eurosport tennis expert Mats Wilander is eager to see the Danish pairing of Holger Rune and Caroline Wozniacki at the Paris Olympic Games in 2024.
Wozniacki, 33, hopes to team up with Rune following her anticipated return to singles tennis after retiring after the Australian Open in 2020.
After twice giving birth, Wozniacki is preparing for her comeback and is set to compete in her first Grand Slam at the US Open.
It is understood she has made an offer to compatriot Rune to play in the mixed doubles together in next year's Olympics, an offer Wilander believes Rune cannot refuse.
“I’m not sure you can call that an offer - that’s a decision!” Wilander said. “‘Holger [Rune], you’re playing mixed doubled with me in the Olympics and you can not say no!’
“Of course, there’s no way he’s not going to say yes, I mean how cool would that be to see that Danish pair team up in the Olympics?
“So for Holger Rune, there’s a lot of pressure there because obviously Caroline Wozniacki has had a huge impact on his passion for the sport and he would have seen tennis on TV, solely because of Caroline Wozniacki back home in Denmark.
“That is something I really look forward to.”
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'She must be in such a great state of mind' - Wilander on Wozniacki comeback to tennis
Wilander thinks Wozniacki’s return is “great for the sport” and that it will be interesting to see if she will be successful or not.
“Obviously, it depends a little bit on how she does. We’ve had people, players come back after starting a family or whatever, and it’s not always a success story.
“But, of course, if she goes out there and starts winning then it’s absolutely great for the sport. For her, it’s just an amazing mindset to be in. Whether it’s successful or not, I can only imagine what she’s feeling right now.
“When she has decided she’s publicly going to say the US Open is going to be her first Grand Slam back, she must be in such a great state of mind. Obviously, we know how life is a rollercoaster, so we have to enjoy this moment with Caroline.”
The Swedish former world No. 1 has been positive about her decision to return to competitive tennis and believes the only expectations for Wozniacki to do well, especially at the 2023 US Open, would be from herself.
“There will be [expectations] from her. I don’t think from anyone else,” he predicted. “I think that you cannot and won’t, probably because of the style that she plays.
“She’s a counter-puncher, she relies on movement and anticipating, and she relies on not missing. Those three things you get only by playing a lot of matches.
“She’s probably going to have to play a few challenges just to get the matches. I’m not saying she’s not good enough to play on the regular tour, but she needs matches and it’s not that easy to get when you play the biggest tournaments and you might get a bad draw.
“It’s a very difficult situation. Kim Clijsters tried and wasn’t that successful so decided to hand it up. It’s great that she’s trying.
“Obviously, coming from Denmark, I’ve run into Caroline and talked to her quite a bit over the years because of her wins and interviews. She’s a great person and an unbelievable fighter on the court.”
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