Caroline Wozniacki comments on facing Iga Swiatek, dealing with social media abuse

Caroline Wozniacki says commentating on Iga Swiatek’s matches through the years gave her a superb likelihood to get a robust really feel of how the Pole performs however acknowledges that watching tennis is a very completely different factor than truly taking part in. 

On Tuesday, former world No. 1 Wozniacki defeated three-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber 6-4 6-2 to achieve the Indian Wells quarterfinal. For 33-year-old Wozniacki – who was working in tennis broadcast earlier than returning to tennis in August – this will probably be her first quarterfinal since she ended her three-and-half-year retirement. 

When Wozniacki and 22-year-old Swiatek meet on Wednesday, it is going to be their second assembly. Beforehand, the 2 met in 2019, with Swiatek upsetting 1-6 6-3 6-4 in Toronto. On the time, Wozniacki was the most effective gamers on the planet whereas Swiatek was simply beginning. 

Forward of dealing with Swiatek, Wozniacki was requested if there was one thing specific from their lone match and in addition to handle her expectations for his or her Indian Wells match.

“No, that is a very long time in the past, and I feel it is probably not going to be the identical match both,” Wozniacki mentioned.

“I feel I’ve clearly commentated a few of her matches. I understand how she’s taking part in. Clearly she’s taking part in good tennis, taking part in powerfully. I practiced together with her as nicely just a few occasions after I’ve come again, throughout the US Open as nicely. I understand how she performs, however it’s one factor realizing how she performs and in addition taking part in in opposition to her in a full match.

“I do know that I’ve to play my greatest tennis to compete in opposition to her, and that is what I hope to do.”

Wozniacki on the place she is now in her return

After making the US Open round-of-16 and beginning her comeback in a robust method, Wozniacki did not make a superb begin to this season – she was crushed within the Auckland and San Diego first rounds whereas she misplaced within the Australian Open second spherical. 

However in Indian Wells, the 2018 Australian Open champion is popping the web page on her season as she has dropped only one set en route to creating the quarterfinal. 

Now that Wozniacki appears to be beginning to discover her sport and rhythm, a reporter requested the Dane if she is at 75 % of the place she desires to be in six months. 

“I do not suppose that is honest to offer myself a share, as a result of I at all times consider, even after I was No. 1 on the planet, I may enhance. I really feel like I’ve improved, and each event yearly, I really feel like I am enhancing,” Wozniacki mentioned.

“Clearly there are occasions once you really feel you are taking part in higher; different occasions you are feeling such as you’re taking part in worse. Typically, you already know, you get the outcomes you need, and different occasions not, even moreover how you are feeling you are taking part in.

“You realize, I really feel like I performed superb in Australia, I felt in follow I used to be hitting the ball as clear as I’ve ever hit it, and it did not go my method. Typically you simply want a bit luck, as nicely.

“Right here first spherical I did not really feel like I performed my greatest tennis, however, you already know, you grind via and also you sort of discover a method via it. Each day you are grinding simply to get via matches.”

Wozniacki on coping with social media negativity

During the last couple of years, tennis gamers have been talking out greater than ever in regards to the social media abuse they expertise each day. Typically, hateful and insulting messages come from indignant bettors who lose cash after which resolve to contact the participant via their social media channels. 

Gamers, who’ve gotten more and more fed up with that sort of messages, usually screenshot these messages so everybody can see how all of that appears – these messages normally include very offensive language, with some wishing a severe sickness and loss of life to gamers. 

However Wozniacki is resistant to social media negativity as she would not spend a lot time there, and even when she takes a while to hit up social media, she would not give any consideration or focus to negativity. 

“I feel most significantly is to essentially care about what your workforce, what your loved ones, and what you consider your sport, as a result of once you look inside, you already know deep down what you could enhance on, what you do nicely. At occasions you’ve got simply obtained to grind via a few of the onerous occasions as a result of higher occasions are coming,” Wozniacki defined.

When Wozniacki takes on Swiatek on Wednesday, she is going to enter because the underdog however there isn’t any doubt that the Polish four-time Grand Slam champion will not take the 2018 Australian Open champion with no consideration.