"I think being new Grand Slam champion and world number one sounds pretty good. I'm very excited for that. It's a dream come true"
Thursday 24 May 2018 14:16, UK
Caroline Wozniacki said it was a "dream come true" after she finally claimed her first Grand Slam title and regained world No 1 status at the Australian Open.
Wozniacki outlasted Simona Halep in a gruelling women's singles final to win her maiden Slam in Melbourne after 43 majors and two failed attempts in finals.
The Dane, who saved match points in her second-round win over Jana Fett, will regain the top ranking next week for the first time in six years.
And following a thrilling 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 6-4 win over Romanian Halep, Wozniacki celebrated her victory as "Sweet Caroline" blared out of the sound system on a sweltering Rod Laver Arena.
"On that match point I thought this can't be real. It wasn't just being Australian Open champion, it was Grand Slam champion and world number one," said the Dane after finally triumphing in her 43rd major tournament.
"There's a lot going through your mind at that point. You're like, no, I had an opportunity. I should have hit it a little bit differently. When I saw that ball go into the net, it was crazy emotional.
"It was such a tough grind. It was very hot out there. I think both of us were very tired in the end.
"I think being new Grand Slam champion and world number one sounds pretty good. I'm very excited for that. It's a dream come true. Daphne here is going home with me tonight. I'll be cuddling with her," added Wozniacki, who recorded her fifth and most important victory against Halep in seven career meetings.
Multiple major champion Serena Williams was "proud" after her long-time friend Wozniacki finally clinching her maiden Slam win.
Williams, who has not played a competitive match since capturing the title at Melbourne Park exactly a year ago, took to Twitter to send her congratulations.
"I got too nervous to watch but woke up to @CaroWozniacki new number one and Aussie Open champ," she tweeted.
"So awesome. So happy. Are those tears? Yup they are," Williams said, with Wozniacki sobbing after ending a long wait to win her first Grand Slam title. "From a year ago to today, I'm so proud my friend, so proud. Literally can't even sleep now," added the 23-time Grand Slam winner.
Tennis legends Rod Laver, Pam Shriver and Boris Becker also tweeted about Wozniacki's win, as did former Denmark and Manchester United goalkeeping great Peter Schmeichel, and Liverpool FC.
An exhausted Halep suffered more disappointment as she missed out again on a long-awaited major trophy, and she said: "I can still smile. It's fine. I cried, but now I'm smiling. It's just a tennis match in the end.
"She was better. She was fresher. I was really tired. I had so many problems in my feet, pain everywhere. But I think I did pretty well with all the things that were going on. I came back in the third set, but when I had to serve for 5-3, the gas was gone.
"I did 100 per cent what I could today. That's why I can say that I'm not sad for that. I'm sad that I lost the match, I was not the winner, but life goes on. For sure in the future, if I keep working like this and I keep playing like this, I will be in a good position again."
