Caroline Wozniaki Cans Hogsted and Hires Mortenson

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 31st January 2014

Caroline Wozniaki Cans Hogsted and Hires Mortenson

epa04027876 Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark in action during her match against Garbine Muguruza of Spain in round three of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 18 January 2014. EPA/DAVID CROSLING AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT |

Michael Mortensen, the Dane who guided Li Na to her first Grand Slam event title at the French Open in 2011, is the latest coach named to try and revive the game of former world no.1 Caroline Wozniacki.

The 52 year-old takes over from Thomas Hogstedt who lasted just three months in the job and ironically replaced Mortensen in the Li Na camp before moving on to coach Maria Sharapova. Mortensen revealed his new job to the Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet and maintained “good things will happen” with Wozniacki, whom he coached for a time as a junior.

“She needs to get her joy in playing back – both in matches and on the practice court,” he said. “A lot has happened with her game, but I’d like to see more of the old Caro. I’d like to see a fusion of the old Caroline with the new Caroline.

“From the latest I’ve seen of her from watching her matches, there have been a lot of flat shots without any pace changes, something she earlier was a master at. She’s shouldn’t be just another one of the players on the tour who just hit hard. She needs to use more facets. She is a great strategist. She needs to get comfortable again with her game.”

The appointment is the latest attempt by the Wozniacki family to find a coach that can work within what appears an overpowering father/daughter relationship between Piotr Wozniacki and Caroline. Hogstedt clearly tired of the task very early and signed his own death warrant by deciding to take an unexpected vacation rather than accompany the player on a training block in Dubai following a disappointing Australian Open.

In early 2012, Wozniacki hired and then fired Ricardo Sanchez after working with him for only two months. The Danish star cited communication issues with Sanchez who himself later said he was never allowed to have full input on coaching decisions with Piotr omnipresent.

Wozniacki is hopeful of better things with a fellow Dane and said of Mortensen: “He has a very positive attitude to both the game and the training, and he has a good way of saying things. He is passionate about the sport and I like that. It is very motivating.”

Wozniacki told the Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet that he was supposed to be working with her this week in Dubai rather than going on holiday.

“I really gave it a chance,” said the former No. 1 who fell in the third round of Australian Open. :We worked hard since the beginning of November. Sometimes things work well in the beginning before you find out it doesn’t work.”

Mortensen said that Wozniacki needs to rediscover her joy in playing matches. He doesn’t seem thrilled with her attempt to become more of an offensive player when it was defense that brought her to No. 1.

“A lot has happened with her game, but I’d like to see more of the old Caro,” he said. “I’d like to see a fusion of the old Caroline with the new Caroline. She needs to use more facets. She is a great strategist. She needs to get comfortable again with her game.”

The current world no.11 lost in the third round of the Australian Open to Spain’s Garbine Muguruza. Wozniacki is next scheduled to compete at the upcoming tournament in Dubai Duty Free Championships.

Topics: 10sballs.com, Australian Open, Caroline Wozniacki, French Open, Li Na, Maria Sharapova, Michael Mortensen, Ricardo Sanchez, Tennis, Tennis News, Wta