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Woz wins Oz: Caroline Wozniacki ends Grand Slam drought

By Veronica Elizabeth Bruno

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 27: Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark after winning the women's singles tournament on day 13 of the 2018 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 27, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by James D. Morgan/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 27: Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark after winning the women's singles tournament on day 13 of the 2018 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 27, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by James D. Morgan/Getty Images) /
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Caroline Wozniacki can no longer be considered a no-Slam No. 1, defeating Simona Halep 7-6, 3-6, 6-4 in a gripping Australian Open final. 

Caroline Wozniacki did not choke. She had match point and she fought every point to grind down Halep to clinch the win. She closed. And the criticisms of her mental strength in Grand Slams has gone by the wayside. Caroline Wozniacki demonstrated that she is one hell of a fighter, powering out the win after almost three hours of incredibly high quality tennis.

Every game counted in the match. Every point counted. The epic showdown went back-and-forth as each player attacked and came back from behind. Just when it looked like the Dane was going to take the third set to a title, breaking Halep early on, the Romanian broke back. When she evened things up at 3-3 with Woz, the title really could have gone to either.

The stats of the match paint a far different picture from the outcome. Simona Halep double faulted only once, hit six aces, won 59 percent of her first serves and hit 40 incredible winners. Wozniacki? She only aced twice, had six double faults, capitalized 55 percent of the time on her first serves and only hit 25 winners.

But against all odds, and after being called the “greatest tennis player to never win a slam,” seven years after being first crowned No. 1, and being mocked for her lack of majors, Wozniacki not only won her first Slam in Melbourne, but will be the new world No. 1 as of Monday. She is the first player from Denmark to win a major.

Wozniacki said she never cries, but when she went to the podium to accept her Daphne Akhurst Memorial trophy from legend Billie Jean King, the 27-year-old was clearly overcome with emotion and had to take a moment to compose herself.

“I’m just taking a second here to hug Daphne [trophy]. To be here today is a dream come true. It’s a very emotional moment,” she said while holding onto her new silverware.

It was a hard fought match, both physically and mentally. It was sad to see anyone lose such a close battle. Wozniacki even apologized to Halep twice in her trophy presentation speech.

“I also want to congratulate Simona. I know today is a tough day. I’m sorry that I had to win, but I’m sure we’ll have many matches in the future,” Wozniacki said. And then again, “It was an incredible match, an incredible fight and again I’m sorry.”

“I also want to thank my fiancée [NBA ace David Lee]. I was a nervous wreck this morning but you managed to calm me down.”

And there it is. This time, the Dane controlled her nerves. This time she closed. Just like she did with her surprise win at last year’s WTA Finals in Singapore — known as the “fifth slam” — the 27-year-old tennis star astonished fans with her resolve and grit.

Caroline Wozniacki, Grand Slam winner, world No. 1.

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