The story behind Caroline Wozniacki's surprising comeback: will she return to the top?

Caroline Wozniacki, former world number one in women's tennis, is back. The Danish star announced in June 2023 that she would return to the professional circuit. Let's take a look at her career before and after her comeback.

Before Wozniacki retired, she built an amazing career that deserves a trip down memory lane.

Wozniacki showed her class from a young age onwards, before turning pro in 2005 aged just 15.

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Her breakthrough came in 2008, when she took home her first WTA Tour title. Wozniacki won the Nordic Light Open in Stockholm without losing a single set.

Wozniacki would continue to work her way up to the top. In 2009, she took the next step in her career, reaching her first Grand Slam final, which she lost to Belgium's Kim Clijsters.

The following year, Wozniacki reached another career milestone by ending the season as world No. 1 after winning six WTA Tour singles titles and reaching the final at the WTA Championships.

In 2011, Wozniacki reached the semi-finals at the Australian and US Open and finished the season as world number one for the second year in a row.

The following year, Wozniacki struggled with a knee injury and was eliminated in the first round of the US Open. She fell out of the world's top 10 for the first time in a long time.

From 2013 to 2017, Wozniacki experienced highs and lows, with a second Grand Slam final and the WTA Finals title, but also injuries.

In 2018, she fulfilled a dream: Wozniacki won the first and only Grand Slam title of her career.

Wozniacki conquered the Australian Open title by beating then top seed and world No. 1 Simona Halep and also finished the year as world number 1.

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2018 was a great year for Wozniacki, but she also got bad news. In October 2018, she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. From that moment on, she wanted to become a role model and an inspiration for people suffering from autoimmune disease.

2019 was Wozniacki's last full year as a professional. She closed the year without winning a singles title for the first time since 2007, after which she made an important decision.

In December 2019, Wozniacki announced her retirement from professional tennis. The 2020 Australian Open was her last tournament as a pro.

Wozniacki wanted to start a family with her partner, former NBA player David Lee. "In recent months, I've realized that there is a lot more in life that I'd like to accomplish off the court," she wrote on Instagram.

"This has nothing to do with my health and this is not a goodbye, I look forward to sharing my exciting journey ahead with all of you," she added. And those would prove to be prophetic words.

After her farewell, Wozniacki had two children, a daughter Olivia and a son James. Yet, she continued to have a desire to play tennis...

This lead to Wozniacki announcing her comeback in June 2023. "We decided as a family it's time. I'm coming back to play and I can't wait!," she wrote on Instagram.

Tennis, however, was no longer her main concern. "My family and my kids is the most important thing in my life to me so I know that if I win or lose they won't look at me any differently," she said ahead of the Wimbledon's women's invitation doubles.

Wozniacki would have to compete with today's best players, but was happy she was not up against Serena Williams, an absolute legend of the game. "Obviously there are a lot of good players out there and it is a high level of tennis but I played with the greatest of all time in Serena. She's the best player I ever played and she isn't around anymore so that feels good to me at the moment! I am happy not to have to play her anymore."

After her comeback, Wozniacki reached the fourth round of the 2023 US Open and the second round of the 2024 Australian Open. She then put in a good performance at Indian Wells, where she reached the quarter-finals.

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Wozniacki is a unique tennis talent, but modern tennis is changing every day and the level continues to rise. Will she return to the absolute top of the sport?