Danish tennis star, Caroline Wozniacki has ended her long wait for a maiden grand slam as she captured the Australian Open and the number one ranking in the women’s game.
She overcame Romanian, Simona Halep in one of the most unforgettable and brutal grand slam finals ever seen.
Wozniacki had to come back from a break down in the final set as the two combatants delivered a final of pure entertainment, drama and class.
In a gripping climax to one of the most memorable women’s Opens on record, Wozniacki wore down battered top seed Simona Halep 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 6-4 in two hours and 50 minutes of incredibly intense tennis at the Melbourne Park.
“I’ve dreamt of this moment for so many years. It’s a dream come true,” Wozniacki said after landing her 28th career title, the $4 million winner’s purse and at least a 68th week as world No.1 — precisely six years after relinquishing top status at the 2012 Open.
“My voice is shaking. It’s an emotional moment.”
Wozniacki’s stirring victory completed one of the sport’s great comeback tales after the 27-year-old spiralled to 74th in the world in August 2016, just 23 months after falling short in her second US Open final.
It’s taken her 11 years, 43 majors, 256 tournaments, 772 matches and untold hours of toil and tears to shed her tag as tennis’s most accomplished talent without a grand slam win.
Halep finals losses follow that of Paris in 2014 and 2017. She goes home with a $2 million consolation pay.
“It’s not easy to talk now but, first of all, I want to congratulate Caroline. She played amazing all tournament,” Halep said graciously in defeat.
“It’s been a great tournament for me. I started not very well with an ankle injury. But I just wanted to give my best every match, which I did. “I’m really happy I could play the final again in a grand slam.”
