Wozniacki wins Australian Open, regains #1 ranking

“It’s my dream to win a grand slam title”. The loss hurt because Halep felt she should have won.

“I’ve had matches where I’ve been down match points and I’ve won them, and you learn something from that”. “I’m sorry I had to win today, ” Wozniacki said, referencing her opponent’s “incredible fight”.

She will now become world number one, when the ranking list is published on Monday, dethroning Halep, who she beat.

“Obviously that’s very special. If it’s not enough today, then it is what it is, but I’m going to be proud of my effort”. I’m very excited for that. And to do it, Wozniacki had to inflict crushing disappointment on Simona Halep, who also was hoping it would be third time lucky in a Grand Slam final.

Wozniacki dominated the tiebreaker, putting memories of her last Australian Open semifinal behind her – she had match points against Li Na in the semifinal in 2011, but was unable to convert. I was a nervous wreack this morning I wanted to win so badly’. “It’s been a great tournament for me”. A lot of credit to her. She’s just the best. She will return to the world No 1 position exactly six years after giving it up – the longest gap in reclaiming the position in WTA history.

“Regardless, I think I’ve had an incredible career”.

“She played awesome. It’s been a great tournament for me”.

“Excited”, was how she described her father’s reaction. They should, even in this time of Serena, have done so much more.

After closing out the nerve-shredding win when Halep netted a backhand, an overwhelmed Wozniacki threw her racket away and collapsed onto the blue hardcourt as the packed terraces roared.

Williams was pregnant when she won the Australian Open last January. “I’ll be cuddling with her”. “Halep: Mind was ready, body failed as she is edged for the Slam title”. It’s fine. I cried, but now I’m smiling. “It’s just a tennis match in the end”. You’ve been up match points, and lost it.

Incredibly the tactic paid off as she broke Wozniacki with a ripping drive up the line to level the match. “I kind of felt my head against the wall”, Wozniacki said.

Chung tried everything to disguise the pain of the raw patches on his left foot which, his agent explained, were “blisters under blisters under blisters”.

Wozniacki: “I’m excited. I’m actually feeling really good about it”. I’m sad that I lost the match, I was not the victor.

“Life sometimes throws curve balls at you and you have to deal with it. When I saw that ball go into the net, it was insane emotional”.

WTA Addict: “In this match-up, Halep and match Wozniacki in every way”.

Her first defeat was a three-setter to Maria Sharapova at the 2014 French Open. She hasn’t been able to perform well on both of those surfaces.

So both players rolled the dice in the 2-hour, 49-minute final, which featured long, absorbing rallies, some gritty defense, a combined 65 clean winners and 10 service breaks. “I knew I had to try and stay calm”.

It will change, rightly, today with Halep and Wozniacki, so close in the rankings that the win will not only clinch the Australian Open, and $4 million prizemoney, but the No.1 slot too. Wozniacki previously lost finals in NY in 2009 and 2014.

She is in her 43rd Grand Slam appearance and desperate to get off the mark.