History of Caroline Wozniacki in Timeline

Caroline Wozniacki is a retired Danish professional tennis player who achieved the world No. 1 ranking in women's singles, holding the top spot for 71 weeks. Her career highlights include winning 30 WTA Tour-level singles titles. Notably, she captured a Grand Slam title at the 2018 Australian Open and won the 2017 WTA Finals. Wozniacki's successful career has solidified her as one of Denmark's most accomplished athletes.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

1986: First Danish woman to reach a WTA semifinal

In 1986, Tine Scheuer-Larsen was the last Danish woman to reach a WTA semifinal before Wozniacki did it in Tokyo in October 2007.

July 1990: Caroline Wozniacki Born

In July 1990, Caroline Wozniacki, a Danish former professional tennis player, was born.

Others born on this day/year

October 2003: ITF Junior Circuit Debut

In October 2003, at the age of 13 years and 3 months, Caroline Wozniacki made her debut on the ITF Junior Circuit.

2004: First Junior Titles

In 2004, Caroline Wozniacki won her first four singles events of the year, progressing from Grade 5 to Grade 3 and Grade 4 tournaments.

July 2005: WTA Tour Debut

On 19 July 2005, Caroline Wozniacki made her debut on the WTA Tour at Cincinnati's Western & Southern Open, losing in the first round.

2006: Junior Australian Open and Wimbledon Wins

In 2006, Caroline Wozniacki was the top seed at the Australian Open junior girls' singles but lost in the final. Later that year, she won the Wimbledon girls' singles title.

2006: Wimbledon Junior Title

In 2006, Caroline Wozniacki won the junior title at the Wimbledon Championships.

February 2007: $75k Singles Title in Ortisei

In February 2007, Caroline Wozniacki won a $75k singles title in Ortisei, Italy, defeating Alberta Brianti.

2007: First Grand Slam Exit

At the Wimbledon, she lost to Austrian Tamira Paszek in the first round. It was her first opening-round exit from any Grand Slam since making her professional debut at the 2007 French Open.

2007: First Season Without a Title Since 2007

Caroline Wozniacki ended her season without winning a title for the first time since 2007.

2007: Worst Year-End Ranking Since 2007

Caroline Wozniacki finished the year with her worst year-end ranking since 2007, ranking at No. 17.

2007: Signed Adidas Endorsement Deal

In 2007, Caroline Wozniacki signed an endorsement deal with Adidas for clothing, footwear, and apparel.

February 2008: Falls Out of Top 50 for First Time Since February 2008

At Wimbledon, Caroline Wozniacki, unseeded for the first time since the February 2008 Australian Open, lost to Svetlana Kuznetsova in the first round, which resulted in her falling out of the top 50 for the first time since February 2008.

May 2008: Ranking Drops to Lowest Since May 2008

Due to an ankle injury during practice, Caroline Wozniacki had to take a break from the clay-court season, which caused her ranking to fall from 22 to 34, the lowest it had been since May 2008.

2008: Newcomer of the Year Award

Caroline Wozniacki won the Newcomer of the Year award for 2008.

2008: First time since 2008 where Wozniacki had failed to reach the quarterfinals

Since 2008, this marked the first time Wozniacki had failed to reach the quarterfinals or better at one of the four Grand Slam tournaments.

2009: Advances to US Open Final

At the 2009 US Open, Caroline Wozniacki advanced to her second Grand Slam final after her opponent, Peng Shuai, retired due to a heat-related illness in the semifinals. This was her first Grand Slam final since the 2009 US Open.

2009: First time since 2009 Wozniacki had failed to reach the quarterfinals

Caroline Wozniacki had reached the quarterfinals of any of the four Grand Slam tournaments since 2009.

2009: WTA Tour Championships Qualification

Caroline Wozniacki qualified for the year-end WTA Tour Championships in Doha for the first time in 2009, reaching the semifinals before retiring due to injury.

2009: Became Endorser for Stella McCartney's Adidas Line

In 2009, Caroline Wozniacki became an endorser for Stella McCartney's line of tennis apparel for Adidas and wore her first 'Adidas by Stella McCartney' tennis dress at the US Open.

2009: Quarterfinal Appearance at Mutua Madrid Open

In 2009, Caroline Wozniacki reached the quarterfinals of the Mutua Madrid Open for the first time since 2009, defeating Jarmila Gajdošová, Christina McHale, and Agnieszka Radwańska before losing to Maria Sharapova.

2009: Eastbourne Title

In 2009, Caroline Wozniacki won her second title of the year on the grass of Eastbourne, defeating Virginie Razzano in the final.

October 2010: First Match Against Reigning No. 1

In October 2010, Caroline Wozniacki played the Madrid Open final and lost to world No. 1 Dinara Safina, marking her only match against a reigning No. 1 before becoming world No. 1 herself.

December 2010: Signed Turkish Airlines Endorsement Deal

On December 20, 2010, Caroline Wozniacki signed a three-year deal to endorse Turkish Airlines' business class service.

2010: Advances to WTA Finals for First Time Since 2010

Caroline Wozniacki advanced to the final of the WTA Finals for the first time since 2010.

2010: Copenhagen tournament

Caroline Wozniacki lost to Angelique Kerber at Copenhagen in 2010.

2010: Lowest Ranking Since 2010

Caroline Wozniacki's loss at the Indian Wells Open caused her to fall to world No. 18, her lowest ranking since 2010.

2010: Caroline Wozniacki's Ranking

In 2010, Caroline Wozniacki achieved a ranking that allowed her to be included in a list of players with significant weeks at the top, totaling 71 weeks between 2010 and 2018.

2010: WTA Tour Championships Final

In 2010, Caroline Wozniacki reached the final at the WTA Tour Championships and became the world No. 1.

2010: US Open Semifinal

In 2010, Caroline Wozniacki reached the semifinals of the US Open and became one of two women to reach at least the fourth round of all four Grand Slam events that year.

2010: Year-End World No. 1

In 2010, Caroline Wozniacki was ranked as the year-end world No. 1 in women's singles by the WTA.

2010: Advances to French Open Quarterfinals for First Time Since 2010

In 2010, at the French Open, Caroline Wozniacki defeated former champion Svetlana Kuznetsova to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2010.

June 2011: Ninth-Most Marketable Athlete

According to the June 2011 edition of SportsPro, Caroline Wozniacki was the world's ninth-most marketable athlete.

2011: Advanced to Australian Open Semifinal Since 2011

At the Australian Open, Caroline Wozniacki beating Carla Suárez Navarro in three sets, she advanced to her second Australian Open semifinal since 2011.

2011: US Open Defeats 2011 Champion

At the US Open, Wozniacki defeated 2011 champion Samantha Stosur in straight sets.

2011: Highest Year-End Ranking Since 2011

By virtue of her WTA Finals crown, Wozniacki moved up to world No. 3 where she would finish the season, her highest year-end ranking since 2011.

2011: Racquet Change and Season Start

During the off season, Wozniacki switched her racquet make from Babolat to Yonex. She began her 2011 season with an exhibition match in Thailand against Kim Clijsters where she lost in a super tie-break

2011: Endorsement Deal with Yonex

From 2011, Caroline Wozniacki signed an endorsement deal with Yonex for racquets, using the Yonex VCORE racquet.

2011: Relationship with Rory McIlroy Began

In 2011, Caroline Wozniacki began a relationship with Northern Irish professional golfer Rory McIlroy.

2011: Year-End World No. 1

In 2011, Caroline Wozniacki held the position of world No. 1 in women's singles by the WTA.

2011: Quarterfinal Loss in Beijing

In 2011, Caroline Wozniacki lost to Flavia Pennetta in the quarterfinals of the Beijing tournament, which was her only loss in the 12 quarterfinals she reached that year.

2011: Reaches Clay Court Final

In 2011, Caroline Wozniacki reached her first clay court final since 2011 at Stuttgart after defeating Simona Halep in the semifinals. She eventually lost to Angelique Kerber in the final.

December 2012: Serena Williams Imitation Controversy

In December 2012, Caroline Wozniacki imitated Serena Williams during an exhibition match in Brazil, sparking controversy on social media, although Williams defended her friend.

2012: Highest Seeding Since 2012

At the Australian Open, Wozniacki was seeded second, her highest seeding since 2012.

2012: First Premier-Level Title Since 2012

At the Pan Pacific Open, Caroline Wozniacki won her first Premier-level title since 2012.

2012: First Win Over Seeded Player at Grand Slam Since 2012

At the US Open, Caroline Wozniacki achieved her first win over a seeded player at a grand slam since 2012 by defeating Andrea Petkovic in straight sets in the third round.

2012: Endorser of Compeed BlisterPatch

In 2012, Caroline Wozniacki became an endorser of Compeed BlisterPatch.

2012: Australian Open Quarterfinals and Loss of Ranking

In 2012, Caroline Wozniacki reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open but lost to Kim Clijsters, resulting in her losing her top ranking to Victoria Azarenka.

2012: Hopman Cup and Sydney International

In 2012, Caroline Wozniacki represented Denmark at the Hopman Cup and participated in the Sydney International, where she lost in the quarterfinals to Agnieszka Radwańska.

2012: First Time Winning Two WTA Tour Titles in Single Season Since 2012

In 2012, at the Hong Kong Open, Wozniacki won her second title of the season and 25th title overall. This was the first time since 2012 that Wozniacki had won two WTA Tour titles in a single season.

October 2013: Hired Thomas Hogstedt

In October 2013, Caroline Wozniacki hired Thomas Hogstedt as her coach.

2013: First Premier Mandatory Final Since 2013

Caroline Wozniacki advanced to her first ever final in Miami and her first Premier Mandatory final since 2013.

2013: Endorsement with Yonex ended

In 2013, Caroline Wozniacki ended her endorsement deal with Yonex for racquets.

2013: First Meetings with Karolína Plíšková

In 2013, Caroline Wozniacki had one of her initial meetings with Karolína Plíšková, resulting in a victory for Wozniacki in three sets.

January 2014: Parted Ways With Thomas Hogstedt; Hired Michael Mortensen

In January 2014, Caroline Wozniacki parted ways with Thomas Hogstedt and hired Michael Mortensen as her coach.

January 2014: Engagement to Rory McIlroy

On January 1, 2014, Caroline Wozniacki and Rory McIlroy announced their engagement via Twitter.

March 2014: Cut Ties With Michael Mortensen

In March 2014, Caroline Wozniacki cut ties with Michael Mortensen and decided to be coached again by her father, Piotr, for the rest of her career.

May 2014: Engagement with Rory McIlroy Ended

On May 21, 2014, Rory McIlroy ended his engagement with Caroline Wozniacki, stating that he wasn't ready for marriage.

November 2014: Runs the New York City Marathon

In November 2014, Caroline Wozniacki ran the New York City Marathon and recorded a time of 3 hours, 26 minutes, and 33 seconds. She stated that the running training was beneficial and contributed to her performances at the US Open and WTA Finals.

2014: Advanced to First Grand Slam Final Since 2014

At the Australian Open in 2014, Caroline Wozniacki defeated Elise Mertens in straight sets to advance to her third Grand Slam final and her first since 2014.

2014: Babolat Pure Aero

From 2014, Caroline Wozniacki began to use the Babolat Pure Aero again.

2014: US Open Final

In 2014, Caroline Wozniacki contested a major final at the US Open.

2014: Early Victories over Karolína Plíšková

In 2014, Caroline Wozniacki continued her winning streak against Karolína Plíšková, securing another victory in three sets.

2014: Rogers Cup and Western & Southern Open

In 2014, Caroline Wozniacki reached the quarterfinals of the Rogers Cup and the semifinals of the Western & Southern Open, losing to Serena Williams in both tournaments.

March 2015: First Title Since March 2015

In March 2015, at the Pan Pacific Open, Caroline Wozniacki defeated Naomi Osaka in the final, winning her 24th WTA Tour title and her first title since March 2015.

2015: Godiva Endorsement

In 2015, Caroline Wozniacki became an endorser of Godiva Chocolatier.

2016: Rematch of 2016 Australian Open First-Round Clash

At the Sydney International in 2016, Caroline Wozniacki defeated Yulia Putintseva in straight sets in a rematch of their 2016 Australian Open first-round clash.

2016: Loses to Sloane Stephens in Auckland Open Semifinal

In 2016, Caroline Wozniacki started her season at the Auckland Open. She advanced to the semifinals after beating Danka Kovinić, Christina McHale, and Alexandra Dulgheru, but lost to Sloane Stephens in straight sets.

2016: Longest Match So Far in 2016

In 2016, at the BNP Paribas Open, Caroline Wozniacki lost to Zhang Shuai in the second round. This match was the longest match so far in 2016, lasting 3 hours and 24 minutes.

February 2017: Relationship with David Lee

On February 14, 2017, Caroline Wozniacki revealed her relationship with former NBA basketball player David Lee.

November 2017: Engagement to David Lee

On November 2, 2017, Caroline Wozniacki and David Lee got engaged.

2017: WTA Finals Win

In 2017, Caroline Wozniacki won the WTA Finals.

2017: Rivalry Intensifies with Karolína Plíšková

In 2017, the rivalry between Caroline Wozniacki and Karolína Plíšková intensified, with the pair meeting six times. Their head-to-head record for the year was 3-3, with alternating winners. Key matches included the Qatar Ladies Open final (Plíšková win), Miami Open semifinal (Wozniacki win), Eastbourne International final (Plíšková win), Rogers Cup quarterfinal (Wozniacki win), Western & Southern Open quarterfinal (Plíšková win), and WTA Finals semifinal (Wozniacki win).

2017: Defeats World No. 1 Karolina Plíšková for the First Time

In the 2017 Rogers Cup in Toronto, Caroline Wozniacki defeated the current world No. 1, Karolina Plíšková, for the first time in her career.

January 2018: Regains World No. 1 Ranking

On January 29, 2018, after winning her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, Caroline Wozniacki regained the world No. 1 ranking after a gap of exactly six years.

October 2018: Diagnosed With Rheumatoid Arthritis

In October 2018, Caroline Wozniacki announced that she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.

2018: Caroline Wozniacki's Ranking

In 2018, Caroline Wozniacki achieved a ranking that allowed her to be included in a list of players with significant weeks at the top, totaling 71 weeks between 2010 and 2018.

2018: Partnership with Lympo

In 2018, Caroline Wozniacki entered into a partnership with Lympo, a healthy lifestyle motivation app.

2018: Loss at WTA Finals Round Robin

In 2018, Caroline Wozniacki faced Karolína Plíšková at the round robin stage of the WTA Finals, where Wozniacki was upset in straight sets.

2018: Withdraws from Washington

In 2018, Caroline Wozniacki withdrew from the US Open Series in Washington due to a right leg injury.

2018: Australian Open Win

In 2018, Caroline Wozniacki won a major title at the Australian Open.

2018: Forbes List

In 2018, Forbes ranked Caroline Wozniacki Number 8 in their "Most Powerful Women in International Sports" list.

June 2019: Married David Lee

On June 16, 2019, Caroline Wozniacki married David Lee in Tuscany, with Serena Williams as a bridesmaid.

December 2019: Announces Retirement

On December 6, 2019, Caroline Wozniacki announced that she would retire from professional tennis after the 2020 Australian Open in January.

May 2020: Farewell Match Delayed

In May 2020, a special farewell match for Caroline Wozniacki, planned to be held in Copenhagen's Royal Arena, was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020: Retirement from Professional Tennis after the 2020 Australian Open

Caroline Wozniacki announced that she would retire from professional tennis after the 2020 Australian Open in January.

2020: Retirement from Tennis

Caroline Wozniacki retired from professional tennis following the 2020 Australian Open.

2020: Reached Auckland Open Semifinals

In 2020, Caroline Wozniacki reached the semifinals of the Auckland Open, defeating Paige Hourigan, Lauren Davis, and Julia Görges. She then lost to Jessica Pegula. Also, Wozniacki and Serena Williams played doubles together for the only time in their careers, losing in the final.

2020: Defensive Baseliner

In 2020, after her retirement, Caroline Wozniacki was described by The Guardian as one of the most defensive players to ever reach No. 1, and criticised for her defensive playing style.

February 2021: Expecting First Child

On February 10, 2021, Caroline Wozniacki announced on her Instagram account that she was expecting her first child.

June 2021: Birth of Daughter Olivia

On June 11, 2021, Caroline Wozniacki gave birth to her daughter, Olivia Wozniacki Lee.

April 2022: Rescheduled Farewell Match

Originally scheduled for May 2020 but delayed, Caroline Wozniacki's farewell match was rescheduled and took place in April 2022.

June 2022: Expecting Second Child

On June 19, 2022, Caroline Wozniacki announced on her Instagram account that she was expecting her second child.

October 2022: Birth of Son James

On October 24, 2022, Caroline Wozniacki's son, James Wozniacki Lee, was born.

2022: Commentator Role

In 2022, Caroline Wozniacki became a commentator for Tennis Channel and ESPN.

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June 2023: Announced Return to Pro Tennis

In June 2023, Caroline Wozniacki announced her return to professional tennis in a Vogue essay, planning to participate in the North American summer hardcourt swing.

2023: Professional Comeback

In 2023, Caroline Wozniacki began a professional comeback at the Canadian Open and the US Open.

2024: Returned to Australian Open

Following the 2023 season, Caroline Wozniacki returned to the 2024 Australian Open, reaching the second round.

2024: Olympic Wildcard

In 2024, after failing to qualify for the French Open, Caroline Wozniacki received an Olympic wildcard for the 2024 Summer Olympics and expressed plans to partner with Holger Rune for mixed doubles.

2024: Wimbledon Championships

In 2024, following a first-round loss at the Birmingham Classic, Caroline Wozniacki reached the quarterfinals in Bad Homburg. She then reached the third round at the Wimbledon Championships, before losing to Elena Rybakina.