Break Point

Having bagged a first Grand Slam tennis title earlier this year in Melbourne, Caroline Wozniacki is riding high. MATHEW SCOTT talks to her about life at the top, family values and her role as a Rolex Testimonee.

- Mathew Scott

Caroline wozniacki was just 16 when she first announced herself in Asia at an exhibition event in Hong Kong that pitted the youngster against some of the greats of the modern tennis world.

She was like a breath of fresh air as she swept into town full of wonder about what life had in store. She held her own, too, against the likes of Grand Slam winners and world numberones Maria Sharapova and Kim Clijsters, giving Asia and the world a glimpse of the talent that was to blossom over the following decade.

Now, more than 10 years later, Wozniacki can reflect on a glittering career that has seen her rise to be world No 1 herself, with achievements on the court that have included a breakthrough Grand Slam title at this year’s Australian Open, along with — at the time of writing — a collection of 28 tournament victories.

Over the course of a decade at the top of the game, Wozniacki has fought back from injuries and endured the constant cycle of playing and travelling to the far-flung reaches of the world to reach the game’s pinnacle.

Off-court, the Danish star has been the embodiment of the modern professional, a point recently acknowledged when she was named by Forbes as among the top 10 most powerful women in sport. Her accomplishments have included a role alongside some of the game’s all-time greats, and being named as a Rolex Testimonee, along with a seemingly never-ending list of requests for modelling and other commercial engagements.

What’s striking when we talk — down the phone line from the Madrid Open at the start of May — is that Wozniacki, now 27, has quite obviously matured into a world-wise woman but retained the same sense of joy on show back then in Hong Kong, one that she has always brought to the game of tennis — and to the journey of life itself.

HOW DO YOU LOOK BACK ON THE PERSON YOU WERE WHEN YOU FIRST CAME TO ASIA?