AS A WINNER of seven Grand Slam titles and former men’s world number one, Mats Wilander knows a great deal about the qualities that define a great tennis player.
For that reason alone, current women’s world number one Caroline Wozniacki should regard his recent comments regarding her temperament and form with a little more respect than she’d perhaps otherwise be tempted.
In far as Wilander’s concerned, the Dane has shown herself content to accumulate bundles of world ranking points by dominating peripheral events, but unwilling to play with the freedom and imagination necessary to make an impact on the biggest stage.
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Speaking to Reuters, he highlighted the mixed blessing that is Wozniacki’s consistency.
“That’s what it reflects. She’s certainly not the best player in the world at her best, but at her worst she’s probably the best player in the world compared to the others.
“Her range is very narrow, very even.”
Wilander also points to the WTA’s rules regarding on-court coaching as a possible impediment to progress.
When she plays on the WTA Tour, Wozniacki is allowed receive advice, mid-match, from her father Piotr. That safety net is withdrawn at the Grand Slams and larger elite events.
As underwhelming as the world number one’s Grand Slam career has been to date– she’s has only one final to her name: the 2009 US Open– the Swede accepted that it would be ludicrous to dismiss the 21-year-old’s prospects.
“We know Wozniacki has the head to be consistent but we don’t know if she’s got the head to wrap her thoughts around winning a grand slam. Her game is not there just yet.”
Wilander, currently working as a pundit for Eurosport, was speaking in the wake of Wozniacki’s semi-final loss to Petra Kvitova– the woman he considers most likely to replace the Dane at the summit of the world ranking– at the WTA Championships in Istanbul.
Wilander uncertain about Wozniacki's killer instinct
AS A WINNER of seven Grand Slam titles and former men’s world number one, Mats Wilander knows a great deal about the qualities that define a great tennis player.
For that reason alone, current women’s world number one Caroline Wozniacki should regard his recent comments regarding her temperament and form with a little more respect than she’d perhaps otherwise be tempted.
In far as Wilander’s concerned, the Dane has shown herself content to accumulate bundles of world ranking points by dominating peripheral events, but unwilling to play with the freedom and imagination necessary to make an impact on the biggest stage.
Speaking to Reuters, he highlighted the mixed blessing that is Wozniacki’s consistency.
Wilander also points to the WTA’s rules regarding on-court coaching as a possible impediment to progress.
When she plays on the WTA Tour, Wozniacki is allowed receive advice, mid-match, from her father Piotr. That safety net is withdrawn at the Grand Slams and larger elite events.
As underwhelming as the world number one’s Grand Slam career has been to date– she’s has only one final to her name: the 2009 US Open– the Swede accepted that it would be ludicrous to dismiss the 21-year-old’s prospects.
Wilander, currently working as a pundit for Eurosport, was speaking in the wake of Wozniacki’s semi-final loss to Petra Kvitova– the woman he considers most likely to replace the Dane at the summit of the world ranking– at the WTA Championships in Istanbul.
Read more on this story from Reuters>
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Caroline Wozniacki Criticism Mats Wilander Tennis