Mark Nixon · @markalannixon
26th Oct 2016 from TwitLonger
Wozniacki interviewed by @johasger:"When you've practised something a million times, it becomes automatic, and you use it in matches." In Ekstra Bladet print edition Oct. 26, 2016.
The transformation has been remarkable. Caroline Wozniacki has always been praised for her defensive abilities and the athletic way she covers the court, but, in the last few months, the tennis world has seen a much more aggressive edition of the Dane on the court.
A Woz 2.0 which many experts have been asking for for years, and which some of us have seen in glimpses on the practice court.
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It's been an ongoing theme, but exactly when did you decide that you were going to actively use a more offensive playing style?
"I don't really think I've thought that much about it like that, to be perfectly honest," she tells Ekstra Bladet during a short visit to Denmark.
"I've just practised. When you practise something a million times, it just becomes automatic at some point, and you use it in matches.I haven't consciously thought, 'now I'm going to take a chance with this.' It just happened."
Has your time with David Kotyza (the Czech coach this spring and summer) and your many conversations played a part?
"No, I don't think it has. I've practised a lot of these things for a long time. And when you first start to feel that now you're hitting the ball well and cleanly, and you start getting the feeling you're playing well, then you dare to go a bit more forward and go a bit more for your shots."
Not the least, you're more aggressive on your serve returns and especially on the second serve.
"It's something I've always practised and felt I was quite good at."
But now you're moving a half step up and going directly after winners with your forehand.
"Yeah, that's something I've been practising more lately. I've always had a stable return and got a lot of returns in well and deep.
"But it's always productive if you stress your opponent on her second serve, because then you also stress her first serve, because it suddenly MUST go in, and then you get a few more chances."
Does getting points finished quicker also have something to do with you needing it more because your body is worn down?
"No, not really. I'm always trying to fine tune my game. So there are somethings that are more visible when people watch on TV, and others that are less visible from the outside. But I'm always trying to optimise small things. It helps sometimes more than others."
A change depends on the mental part, too?
"Yeah, it does. If you have self confidence and if you feel that you're playing well, then you dare take an extra step into the court and show 'here I am'.
"When I feel my form is good, and I've been able to train properly, and I've given myself time to properly come back, then I feel I'm quicker, and that it's OK if I take an extra step off the court to get a ball back, because I'll get back into position again.
"If I'm a half step slower, the point needs to be finished quicker, and I get stressed."
Do your progress and extra weapons give you the belief that you have a chance at a slam soon?
"I've always felt that I did. There are no names in the field where I think, 'Oops, that'll be tough if I draw her'.
"Serena of course is tough. You know when you're playing her at her highest level she's really tough to beat. There you need to really - really - play up to your best."
Do you feel you're better equipped to do it now?
"Yes, I do. For sure. I also think I can win when I go on court against her.
"I feel better equipped and comfortable and hope I can get a good start next year. I don't have so many points to defend. That's the positive (laughs)."
How do you look back at the last two months, and what have they given you?
"They've been good months. It was all kick-started at the US Open, where I had a tough first match, but it moved up from there. I've always played well in Tokyo, and I had some good wins against Top 10 players there.
"It's given me confidence. The things I've been practising well, worked. I've won practice matches against a lot of opponents, but now they've worked in real matches. It was cool to feel that things were going the right way."
Now you're back at the top, but what are your thoughts now about an early career stop?
"To be totally honest, I've been taking it one year at a time for the last few years. I've looked at how my body felt, and how I've felt. It's not something I'm thinking about right now."
But you've the public several times at tournaments in the Fall that you were looking forward to coming back next year.
"I'm playing for sure next year. There's nothing there," smiles Caroline Wozniacki.