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Wozniacki wary of mimicking ‘inspiration’ Serena

Caroline Wozniacki Monday called Serena Williams an “inspiration” after she returned to world number one at the record age of 31 — but said she would think twice about impersonating her again.

Wozniacki, 22, ended 2010 and 2011 on top of the rankings but slipped off the pace last year and now lies 10th.

But the Dane, who has never won a Grand Slam, said she could draw hope from the 15-time major champion who has battled back from injury and illness to reclaim the top spot for the first time in two-and-a-half years.

“I think first of all I’m nine years younger than her because I’m 22! But second of all I think that it’s great,” Wozniacki told reporters by phone ahead of next month’s BNP Paribas Tennis Showdown in Hong Kong.

“She’s a great champion, she has won 15 Grand Slam titles, she’s had an amazing year so she deserves to be world number one. Obviously it’s an inspiration because it shows even though she had to fight back after her sickness and everything she went through, that she still came back.” Wozniacki dismissed the notion that 2012 was a “bad year” despite her best finish at a major tournament being quarter-final appearances at the Australian Open and at the Olympics — where she lost to Williams, the eventual winner.