BNP Paribas Showdown – Caroline Wozniacki Gives Interview

StarGames President, Jerry Solomon: Joining us today and a particular thank you to Caroline who I know is in Doha where I know it is late. So we will try to keep this thing moving along. The only thing I want to say is that as we look to this year’s event it is carrying on what we believe is a Winter in New York tradition – following on a long history of tennis at Madison Square Garden and once again we are bringing a field which has been, every player we have brought to the showdown has been either a Grand Slam champion or a number one player in the world and we are ecstatic to be able to have four former number one players, four players who have all been number one players in the world at some point in their career coming in this year, with Caroline, Maria, Roger and Andy. We are looking forward to the event and it really is an honor for us to have Caroline Wozniacki, a two-time year end world champion to be with us this year. With that Caroline thanks for being here and I’ll open it up to you.

Caroline Wozniacki: I am really excited to come and play and to play Maria and along with Andy and Roger, I am sure it is going to be an unbelievable event at Madison Square Garden which is something very special. I have actually never been inside but I am extremely excited to go and play and I love New York and I have always played well at the U.S Open. I am looking forward to going back there and I am sure that it will be great.

Q: How were your travels from Dubai to Doha?

Caroline Wozniacki: Oh it was easy. Just an hour flight so it doesn’t take long. I was in Dubai for a little over a week and I feel like I am ready to play here in Doha.

Q: And you watched Rory play and he’s now tied for the lead after the second round. Is it nice to spend some time with him?

Caroline Wozniacki: Yeah, definitely it is great to be able to spend some time and I got some good practices in and good weather. It is great

Q: Your new coach was just fired last week. What kind of instruction and direction are you looking for in a coach?

Caroline Wozniacki: We talked with Ricardo … we wanted to get some advice from him and we were going to try and see what he can do for us in the off season and for Australia that was the first time. I’m just trying to get some new eyes and some new input. Yeah, we just decided the way he could help he could but at the same time I’ve been working with my dad for a very long time. You know I think for me right now that is the best thing at the moment.

Q: The New York crowds tend to be louder than most. Do you enjoy playing in New York and do you feed off that atmosphere?

Caroline Wozniacki: Yeah I really enjoy it. I think that kind of atmosphere is great and it really pumps you up and it is not like playing a tennis match or being at a football match but I really like that. Although they are very loud and cheerful they are still very respectful. Yeah I really enjoy playing and coming back to New York and I wish I could play at the U.S Open as well.

Q: Will you have any down time while you are in New York?

Caroline Wozniacki: Yeah I will come probably three days early and spend some time in the city and enjoy it.

Q: Coming off Australia I know the press conference after the loss are kind of tough to talk about your thoughts because the match is so fresh, say a week or two later to talk about the tournament maybe some things you could have done better and what you’re looking to do going forward?

Caroline Wozniacki: I can always look back and say I could have done this better, I could have done that better but I think if you keep looking at the scores you’ll never improve you just need to keep looking forward. Every time you step on the practice court keeping practice the same way you thought but, it didn’t really turn out that great. I think I am a hard worker and in a sport you always have times where you play great tennis and times where when maybe you aren’t playing your best and just trying to find a way to win. I played Kim (Clijsters) the day where she played really well and it’s just an unfortunate thing that I could not pull off, especially during the second set when I really felt like I was doing that. So I don’t know what’s going to happen. I just need to keep improving on my serve and my returns and just trying to play the sport and trying to always improve like during the next game or the first shot. All of these things. Just need to up your game.

Q: Can I just ask you about Victoria, because I know she’s a close friend of yours and you guys have known each other since you were kids so were you very happy to see her get through and win a major like that?

Caroline Wozniacki: Yeah definitely. I mean, you’re always happy for your friends when their doing well and you know, we grew up together playing together, and you know I’ve been doing really well for the last two years as well and she’s doing well and it’s great to see a friend doing well.

Q. Moving forward and I know you’re close to your Dad, are you still open to the possibility of bringing someone else into help or are you saying to yourself nope the rest of the year it’s just me and dad?

Caroline Wozniacki: Well for now, I’ll probably just keep it to me and my dad. I like it when the team is not too big. I like just to have the cozy atmosphere; I don’t like where there are too many people. It’s worked great in the past as well and for now I just want to keep it like it is.

Q: You’ll play Sharapova in the Showdown, what about her game and style of play is different from other players?

Caroline Wozniacki: She’s a power player; she’s taking the ball early and going for her shots. She’s a tall girl as well so she has a big reach and you know she uses it to her advantage, definitely.

Q: Do you think her serve is improving, I know she had problems after shoulder surgery, but it seems like she’s getting a little more on track.

Caroline Wozniacki: Yeah, I definitely think so. She’s a tall girl and I think she’s starting to get confidence in her shoulder, and everything, and confidence in her serve. I’m sure it will keep improving all the time.

Q: Sharapova got beat pretty handily by Azarenka at the Australian Open; does that prove that it’s not easy even for a veteran like her to win a Grand Slam title?

Caroline Wozniacki: Of course, I mean, it’s not easy. If it would be easy than everyone would do it but it’s a lot of hard work. There’s always young girls coming up, and you know, there’s always experienced ones, so you know, you just need to keep focused and keep playing well, and play well for 7 matches in a row, which is definitely not easy.

Q: When you approach it mentally, is it more of just playing for fun, or does your competitive spirit still take over?

Caroline Wozniacki: A bit of everything, you know, I’m very competitive. I hate losing and I think when you practice you need to enjoy it and of course it’s tough. I’m a perfectionist as well so I can get pretty frustrated at practice when things are not going right and I’ll stand out there and keep going until actually I start hitting the ball exactly the way I wanted. I think the best feeling, at least for me, is standing there after you’ve won a match, just adrenaline and everything. It’s a great feeling to be out there after a tough battle and you stand there as the winner in the end. I think that’s what drives me, the winning, and the yeah, just the adrenaline, and you know that you give yourself a 100%. It’s a mixture of everything.

Q: Is no longer being number 1 a blessing in some ways because it means fewer questions about a grand slam title?

Caroline Wozniacki: Yeah, you know I’ve been number one; I’ve finished number one 2 years in a row. So I’ve been there, done that and you know, like I was joking before, I don’t know what the media will ask about now, because now, every press conference I’ve had the last 1.5 years, the question has been your number one but, you haven’t won a grand slam. So, now actually everyone has to think about new questions now and you know I can just play. Before if I would lose a match, how could I lose a match, I’m number one, you should win everything but your just a human being and it’s not as easy as it looks like, I wish it was, but it’s not so. Right now I’m just focusing on my game and going out and enjoying and hopefully playing well and that’s it.

Q: Here is the new media question. What would you want first to get number one back or your first grand slam title?

Caroline Wozniacki: Probably my first grand slam title. I have been number one for, I don’t know, 60 something weeks, and I’ve finished number one 2 years in a row. So yeah, I’ve done that, and now I would like to win a grand slam.

Q: did you watch Novak play Rafa?

Caroline Wozniacki: I watched the first 1.5 sets and then I watched the 5th set.

Q: I know you know Novak pretty well, he’s a neighbor of yours, can you just talk about the achievement of playing almost 6 hours like that, and beating someone like Nadal?

Caroline Wozniacki: It’s unbelievable. Nadal is a fighter and a warrior out there and you know Djokovic is just unbelievable in what he’s done. They also played so many hours the matches before and it’s unbelievable what they can pull out. The level of tennis in the 5th set was so unbelievable even though they played for like 4 hours and 45 minutes until that time. I have big respect for both of them.

Q: Would you like to play a 3 out of 5 set final at a grand slam ever, just to see whether or not you know you can use your legs and just outlast someone?

Caroline Wozniacki: I think if you play best of 3 sets the whole tournament and then play the finals best of 5, I don’t think that’s a great idea. To make a tournament where all matches are best of 5, I think that could be pretty interesting.

Q: A lot of the junior players here in NY want to grow up and be the next Caroline Wozniacki, what advice would you give to them on how to become a pro player?

Caroline Wozniacki: Well, there will always be ups and downs and times where you feel you play unbelievable and times you may be losing matches that you thought you would win. There will always be people telling you that you will never become anyone, or you will never be a great player, but the truth is if you believe enough in yourself and if you work hard enough, you know, anything is possible. It’s just about keep fighting out there, and practice hard, and practice a lot of hours. It takes a lot of practice to get to a high level but it’s definitely worth it in the end. It’s a long road ahead, but it’s a fun road as well.

Larry Torres: I think Caroline has answered a bunch of questions here, great job Caroline, and thank you so much for taking the time out of your schedule. Jerry do you have any comments before we can let Caroline go?

Jerry Solomon: No, just thanks a lot, I think it was great, and I look forward to seeing you in NY.

StarGames President, Jerry Solomon: Joining us today and a particular thank you to Caroline who I know is in Doha where I know it is late. So we will try to keep this thing moving along. The only thing I want to say is that as we look to this year’s event it is carrying on what we believe is a Winter in New York tradition – following on a long history of tennis at Madison Square Garden and once again we are bringing a field which has been, every player we have brought to the showdown has been either a Grand Slam champion or a number one player in the world and we are ecstatic to be able to have four former number one players, four players who have all been number one players in the world at some point in their career coming in this year, with Caroline, Maria, Roger and Andy. We are looking forward to the event and it really is an honor for us to have Caroline Wozniacki, a two-time year end world champion to be with us this year. With that Caroline thanks for being here and I’ll open it up to you.

Caroline Wozniacki: I am really excited to come and play and to play Maria and along with Andy and Roger, I am sure it is going to be an unbelievable event at Madison Square Garden which is something very special. I have actually never been inside but I am extremely excited to go and play and I love New York and I have always played well at the U.S Open. I am looking forward to going back there and I am sure that it will be great.

Q: How were your travels from Dubai to Doha?

Caroline Wozniacki: Oh it was easy. Just an hour flight so it doesn’t take long. I was in Dubai for a little over a week and I feel like I am ready to play here in Doha.

Q: And you watched Rory play and he’s now tied for the lead after the second round. Is it nice to spend some time with him?

Caroline Wozniacki: Yeah, definitely it is great to be able to spend some time and I got some good practices in and good weather. It is great

Q: Your new coach was just fired last week. What kind of instruction and direction are you looking for in a coach?

Caroline Wozniacki: We talked with Ricardo … we wanted to get some advice from him and we were going to try and see what he can do for us in the off season and for Australia that was the first time. I’m just trying to get some new eyes and some new input. Yeah, we just decided the way he could help he could but at the same time I’ve been working with my dad for a very long time. You know I think for me right now that is the best thing at the moment.

Q: The New York crowds tend to be louder than most. Do you enjoy playing in New York and do you feed off that atmosphere?

Caroline Wozniacki: Yeah I really enjoy it. I think that kind of atmosphere is great and it really pumps you up and it is not like playing a tennis match or being at a football match but I really like that. Although they are very loud and cheerful they are still very respectful. Yeah I really enjoy playing and coming back to New York and I wish I could play at the U.S Open as well.

Q: Will you have any down time while you are in New York?

Caroline Wozniacki: Yeah I will come probably three days early and spend some time in the city and enjoy it.

Q: Coming off Australia I know the press conference after the loss are kind of tough to talk about your thoughts because the match is so fresh, say a week or two later to talk about the tournament maybe some things you could have done better and what you’re looking to do going forward?

Caroline Wozniacki: I can always look back and say I could have done this better, I could have done that better but I think if you keep looking at the scores you’ll never improve you just need to keep looking forward. Every time you step on the practice court keeping practice the same way you thought but, it didn’t really turn out that great. I think I am a hard worker and in a sport you always have times where you play great tennis and times where when maybe you aren’t playing your best and just trying to find a way to win. I played Kim (Clijsters) the day where she played really well and it’s just an unfortunate thing that I could not pull off, especially during the second set when I really felt like I was doing that. So I don’t know what’s going to happen. I just need to keep improving on my serve and my returns and just trying to play the sport and trying to always improve like during the next game or the first shot. All of these things. Just need to up your game.

Q: Can I just ask you about Victoria, because I know she’s a close friend of yours and you guys have known each other since you were kids so were you very happy to see her get through and win a major like that?

Caroline Wozniacki: Yeah definitely. I mean, you’re always happy for your friends when their doing well and you know, we grew up together playing together, and you know I’ve been doing really well for the last two years as well and she’s doing well and it’s great to see a friend doing well.

Q. Moving forward and I know you’re close to your Dad, are you still open to the possibility of bringing someone else into help or are you saying to yourself nope the rest of the year it’s just me and dad?

Caroline Wozniacki: Well for now, I’ll probably just keep it to me and my dad. I like it when the team is not too big. I like just to have the cozy atmosphere; I don’t like where there are too many people. It’s worked great in the past as well and for now I just want to keep it like it is.

Q: You’ll play Sharapova in the Showdown, what about her game and style of play is different from other players?

Caroline Wozniacki: She’s a power player; she’s taking the ball early and going for her shots. She’s a tall girl as well so she has a big reach and you know she uses it to her advantage, definitely.

Q: Do you think her serve is improving, I know she had problems after shoulder surgery, but it seems like she’s getting a little more on track.

Caroline Wozniacki: Yeah, I definitely think so. She’s a tall girl and I think she’s starting to get confidence in her shoulder, and everything, and confidence in her serve. I’m sure it will keep improving all the time.

Q: Sharapova got beat pretty handily by Azarenka at the Australian Open; does that prove that it’s not easy even for a veteran like her to win a Grand Slam title?

Caroline Wozniacki: Of course, I mean, it’s not easy. If it would be easy than everyone would do it but it’s a lot of hard work. There’s always young girls coming up, and you know, there’s always experienced ones, so you know, you just need to keep focused and keep playing well, and play well for 7 matches in a row, which is definitely not easy.

Q: When you approach it mentally, is it more of just playing for fun, or does your competitive spirit still take over?

Caroline Wozniacki: A bit of everything, you know, I’m very competitive. I hate losing and I think when you practice you need to enjoy it and of course it’s tough. I’m a perfectionist as well so I can get pretty frustrated at practice when things are not going right and I’ll stand out there and keep going until actually I start hitting the ball exactly the way I wanted. I think the best feeling, at least for me, is standing there after you’ve won a match, just adrenaline and everything. It’s a great feeling to be out there after a tough battle and you stand there as the winner in the end. I think that’s what drives me, the winning, and the yeah, just the adrenaline, and you know that you give yourself a 100%. It’s a mixture of everything.

Q: Is no longer being number 1 a blessing in some ways because it means fewer questions about a grand slam title?

Caroline Wozniacki: Yeah, you know I’ve been number one; I’ve finished number one 2 years in a row. So I’ve been there, done that and you know, like I was joking before, I don’t know what the media will ask about now, because now, every press conference I’ve had the last 1.5 years, the question has been your number one but, you haven’t won a grand slam. So, now actually everyone has to think about new questions now and you know I can just play. Before if I would lose a match, how could I lose a match, I’m number one, you should win everything but your just a human being and it’s not as easy as it looks like, I wish it was, but it’s not so. Right now I’m just focusing on my game and going out and enjoying and hopefully playing well and that’s it.

Q: Here is the new media question. What would you want first to get number one back or your first grand slam title?

Caroline Wozniacki: Probably my first grand slam title. I have been number one for, I don’t know, 60 something weeks, and I’ve finished number one 2 years in a row. So yeah, I’ve done that, and now I would like to win a grand slam.

Q: did you watch Novak play Rafa?

Caroline Wozniacki: I watched the first 1.5 sets and then I watched the 5th set.

Q: I know you know Novak pretty well, he’s a neighbor of yours, can you just talk about the achievement of playing almost 6 hours like that, and beating someone like Nadal?

Caroline Wozniacki: It’s unbelievable. Nadal is a fighter and a warrior out there and you know Djokovic is just unbelievable in what he’s done. They also played so many hours the matches before and it’s unbelievable what they can pull out. The level of tennis in the 5th set was so unbelievable even though they played for like 4 hours and 45 minutes until that time. I have big respect for both of them.

Q: Would you like to play a 3 out of 5 set final at a grand slam ever, just to see whether or not you know you can use your legs and just outlast someone?

Caroline Wozniacki: I think if you play best of 3 sets the whole tournament and then play the finals best of 5, I don’t think that’s a great idea. To make a tournament where all matches are best of 5, I think that could be pretty interesting.

Q: A lot of the junior players here in NY want to grow up and be the next Caroline Wozniacki, what advice would you give to them on how to become a pro player?

Caroline Wozniacki: Well, there will always be ups and downs and times where you feel you play unbelievable and times you may be losing matches that you thought you would win. There will always be people telling you that you will never become anyone, or you will never be a great player, but the truth is if you believe enough in yourself and if you work hard enough, you know, anything is possible. It’s just about keep fighting out there, and practice hard, and practice a lot of hours. It takes a lot of practice to get to a high level but it’s definitely worth it in the end. It’s a long road ahead, but it’s a fun road as well.

Larry Torres: I think Caroline has answered a bunch of questions here, great job Caroline, and thank you so much for taking the time out of your schedule. Jerry do you have any comments before we can let Caroline go?

Jerry Solomon: No, just thanks a lot, I think it was great, and I look forward to seeing you in NY.

Topics: Caroline Wozniacki

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