Caroline Wozniacki's incredible physical transformation
New baby on the way
Caroline Wozniacki is one of the greatest female tennis players of all time, and she recently shared that she was having a third baby with her former NBA husband David Lee.
Pro at 15
Born in Denmark to Polish athletic parents, Wozniacki turned pro at just 15, already showing flashes of the competitive fire that would define her.
Consistency the key
A tough loss, but what followed was one of the most consistent stretches in modern women's tennis. Wozniacki climbed to No. 1 in October 2010, at just 20 years old, and held onto that spot for 71 weeks. Her game was built around world-class defense, remarkable anticipation, and an engine that seemed to never run out.
Outlasting almost everyone
She'd chase down everything, frustrate the tour's biggest hitters, and make them hit one more ball – usually an error. But despite being on top of the world, there was always something missing from her summary – a Grand Slam win.
Breaking the Slam drought
That chip on her shoulder stayed with her until 2018, when she finally won the Australian Open in a gutsy, three-set battle against Simona Halep. It was the moment everyone had been waiting for – and one that reflected how much she had evolved.
A more complete player
By then, her game had grown more aggressive, her serve had more firepower, and her body had changed, too. She was a complete athlete: stronger, faster, and able to dictate rallies with intent.
A shift in mentality
Perhaps the biggest change was her mentality. Wozniacki wasn't just defending anymore – she was on the attack.
"Give it may all"
"I was just going to go out there and give it may all and swing for it," Wozniacki said following the match, as reported by Tennis. "I was playing aggressively. I think I played well. It could have gone either way today, but I'm glad it went my way."
Core focused
Wozniacki talked in depth about her training leading up to her Oz Open win with ESPN, and stated that strength training on her core and legs was a huge part of it. "When you tone your legs, your abs, your butt or core, it happens to help my tennis, but it also happens to make me look better," she said.
Pushing herself to the limit
She also explained that a large part of her training was beach sprinting for lower impact cardio, as well as boxing training, which gave her an all round workout: "Boxing training gets really physical. I like to get pushed to the limit to test how far I can go. I've done it for years; it's great exercise," she told ESPN.
Battle with rheumatoid arthritis
But sport at this level can be cruel, and despite enjoying perhaps her best ever year, she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in October 2018, following a gradual decline since Wimbledon. The condition had become so painful that it left her bedridden.
Strict regime
She managed to treat the condition with a strict diet, sleep schedule, and training regimen, as Health reported, and she managed to return to the court in 2019, before hanging up her racket in 2020 to start a family.
Comeback
But in true Wozniacki fashion, the story didn't end there. Three years, two kids, and a whole new chapter later, she returned to pro tennis in August 2023, and picked up right where she left off.
Can still mix with the best
At the US Open, she stunned everyone by reaching the fourth round, taking out No. 11 Petra Kvitová with the kind of controlled aggression that defined her post-prime game.
