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Dubai is a tough field: Wozniacki

At the tender age of just 20, Dane Caroline Wozniacki has won 12 WTA singles, along with two doubles, titles and become the first tennis player from her native country to be crowned the world number one — a ranking she’ll lose to Belgian Kim Clijsters on Monday having held it for 18 weeks since 11 October 2010.

She talks exclusively to Alex Leach about her expectations ahead of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, Fed Cup relegation to Europe/Africa Group II and that Grand Slam goal.

· You’ll be the highest-ranked player involved in the forthcoming Dubai Duty Free Women’s Open and, therefore, shall presumably be quite high among the favourites to win it. How do you assess your chances?

I’m just going to go out there, enjoy myself and do my best. I’ve been among the favourites to win tournaments for a long time now and I always go out there and try to do exactly that. We’ll see how I go and if I’m able to win or not. It’s simply a case of there being a yellow ball and a court and getting more balls in that court than my opponent.

· Two-time champion Venus Williams won’t be back to defend her title this year having suffered a hip injury at the Australian Open and there are now doubts over the participation of another former Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova, who withdrew from the recent Paris Open with a virus picked up in Moscow. However, with the likes of Vera Zvonareva, Francesca Schiavone and Samantha Stosur still in the mix, what do you make of the seemingly stiff competition?

It’s a tough field and the top players in the world are playing here, so it’s not going to be easy at a big tournament. It’s just about doing the best you can and fighting for every ball.

· What are your impressions of Dubai as a destination on the WTA Tour?

I really like it. I’ve been seeing a little bit of the emirate and I know a few people who can show me around here. I’ve been to some nice restaurants, including Caramel, and gone shopping at the Dubai Mall and the Mall of the Emirates. I’ve also been up the tallest building in the world (the Burj Khalifa), which was fun, so it’s great!

· Despite your achievements and rapid progress in the women’s game so far, you are yet to win a Grand Slam (GS) title. Is there one GS out of the four (Australian Open (hard), French Open (clay), Wimbledon (grass) or US Open (hard)) that you believe your game is more suited to winning? Additionally, is there a GS tournament you’d prefer to win first over the other three?

I can win any Grand Slam as my game fits all of the courts, so I’m just trying, playing my best and we’ll have to see. I’d like to win any Grand Slam title.

· You represented your country in the Europe/Africa Group I of the Fed Cup earlier this month at the Municipal Tennis Club in Eilat, Israel, where Denmark and Latvia got relegated to Group II for 2012. How do you feel about Danish demotion to the fourth-tier of women’s tennis internationally?

I did my best; I won all of my singles matches and it’s tough to win alone. It’s fine. I had some good practice matches and now I’m ready for here.

· Are you still prepared to represent your country at that level, bearing in mind you clearly have career ambitions to pursue as an individual athlete and away from that team environment?

It (Europe/Africa Group II) is a year away yet and I haven’t made my decision.

· What would you say are the best aspects of your game as a tennis player?

I understand the game very well and I’m a fighter; I never give up. Those are some of the most important things in my game.

· Some other female players have managed to get to the world number one position and then, for whatever reason, haven’t been able to sustain their form amid all of the pressure at the top. You, however, seem relatively comfortable up there. Why is that specifically?

Of course, I like being the world number one. I think everyone would like to trade with me and be in this position. That’s what I’ve been training for throughout my whole life as a tennis player, so I definitely enjoy it. Why should I feel the pressure? I believe I deserve to be where I am, and if I feel like that, then there’s no pressure.

· Kim (Clijsters) could potentially overtake you in the world rankings on Monday if she beats Jelena (Dokic) and reaches the semi-finals of the Paris Open. Do you relish having some competition for the number one position? (*Australian Open champion Clijsters will now overtake Wozniacki having beaten Dokic 6-3, 6-0 in the French capital in Friday’s quarter-finals*).

To be honest, I really don’t want to pay attention to the tournament in Paris. I’m enjoying myself – and playing – here. Nothing will really change and, whether I’m number one or number two, I’m a great player and I’m just going to try to win this tournament.

· You’re still comparatively young, but have you set yourself any long-term targets for your career?

No, not really. I just live for every second and enjoy myself. Tennis is a big part of my life, but it’s not all of it. I have a great family and fantastic friends around the world and – tonight, for example – I’m just going to enjoy it, relax and just charge the batteries.

· Who were your tennis idols growing up and why?

Steffi Graf and Martina Hingis. Martina was a very good player; she was always thinking on the court and, even though she wasn’t a power player as such, she knew every shot. She was very good technically. Steffi was so good physically and moved so well. I just liked her spirit on the court.