Focused Wozniacki unconcerned by rankings

Danish tennis star Caroline Wozniacki, gunning for her first ASB Classic title, says her first priority in Auckland is getting back into match rhythm.

Victory at the ASB Classic could catapult Caroline Wozniacki back to world No.1, but the Danish tennis star isn't having a bar of it.

Wozniacki - currently ranked third in the world - heads into Tuesday's first-round Classic match against Madison Brengle as a firm tournament favourite, having finished off her 2017 campaign with victory at the ATP Finals in Singapore.

An Auckland win could also send the 27-year-old counter-puncher back to the top of the tennis world, depending on the results of current No.1 Simona Halep at the Shenzhen Open and No.2 Garbine Muguruza at the Brisbane International.

Yet Wozniacki wasn't worried by any of that.

The Miami-based ace - still on the hunt for her first grand slam title - said she'd be chuffed to earn top ranking but didn't place it high on her priority list.

"That'd be awesome, amazing, but I've been there before, it's something I've done - it's not something I feel like I really have to achieve," Wozniacki said.

"I'm just enjoying that I've been playing well and honestly, right now, I think my main focus is just trying to get in that match rhythm, it's always difficult."

The 2018 Classic marks Wozniacki's fourth consecutive stint in Auckland, having made the final in 2015, the semi-final in 2016 and the quarters last year.

She felt there was no better place to start the year.

Should Auckland's fickle weather hold out, Wozniacki will take on the American Brengle on Tuesday - the vanquisher of Serena Williams in last year's event.

The two players have gone head-to-head twice before, with Wozniacki emerging triumphant on both occasions, in Luxembourg in 2016 and Miami in 2015.

"It's been a full year - I've played her a few times before and obviously she's a tricky opponent. I'm just going to go out there and do my best," Wozniacki said.

"It's the first tournament and you kind of just want to get into it and want to try and get everything out that you've practised, start feeling it in match play."


Share
2 min read

Published

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world
Focused Wozniacki unconcerned by rankings | SBS News