Caroline Wozniacki did a sub-4 at her debut marathon nearly four years ago, though her victory in Melbourne is far sweeter
By Eric Nicole Salta | Lead photo from Instagram
Call it a long-awaited coronation but Caroline Wozniacki’s marathon win at the Australian Open women’s singles final over top-ranked Simona Halep is exactly that.
It may have taken her 12 years, two US Open finals losses, overcoming ankle injuries, two hours and 50 minutes, and an incredible 7-6, 3-6, 6-4 victory to finally lift her first Grand Slam singles title in Melbourne, but it was all worth the wait.
“I’m just taking a second here to hug Daphne,” she said at the awards ceremony. “To be here today is a dream come true. It’s a very emotional moment.” With her win, the Danish player will regain her world number one position when the new rankings are released next week.
Naturally the entire tennis community was elated
From her best friend Serena Williams
I got too nervous to watch but woke up to @CaroWozniacki new number one and aussie open champ. So awesome. So happy. Are those tears? Yup they are. 😭 from a year ago to today I'm so proud my friend so proud. Literally can't even sleep now
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) January 27, 2018
and Hall of Famers Rod Laver and Boris Becker
Congratulations @CaroWozniacki – welcome to the Club.
— Rod Laver (@rodlaver) January 27, 2018
What a match !!! @CaroWozniacki v @Simona_Halep …both players deserve all the credit in the world but it’s #Wozniacki time to shine ! #1 #Champion
— Boris Becker (@TheBorisBecker) January 27, 2018
to former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez
What a final of the @AustralianOpen thank you @Simona_Halep and @CaroWozniacki for this amazing fight. Congratulations to both of you #womentennisrocks
— Conchita Martínez 💙 (@conchitamartinz) January 27, 2018
and British number one Johanna Konta and American Olympic gold medalist and Grand Slam doubles champion Bethanie Mattek-Sands
I’m so incredibly proud to be a part of women’s tennis in this day and age. What a tournament for both @CaroWozniacki and @Simona_Halep 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 @WTA @AustralianOpen
— Johanna Konta (@JohannaKonta) January 27, 2018
Ecstatic for Woz but Gutted for Simona… What. A. Match. 🎾 #AusOpen
— Bethanie MattekSands (@matteksands) January 27, 2018
But what some of you may have not known is that Wozniacki has a penchant for taking the long road to success. Cases in point are her comebacks—she was down two match points and 1-5 in the second round against Croatia’s Jana Fett—and her craziness when the 27-year-old Danish star decided to run at the 2014 New York City Marathon “on a whim” despite only logging in no more than 13 miles during her tennis training.
“I’ve never tried anything this hard,” Wozniacki said in an interview. “This is the toughest physical test ever.” Yet despite hitting the wall at her first-ever marathon, Denmark’s first Grand Slam champion nailed a 3:26:33 finish.