World congratulates Wozniacki on wonderful career

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World congratulates Wozniacki on wonderful career

ByCody Fitzpatrick

Published Jan 25, 2020

After two hours and three hard-fought sets, it was all over. The ball had flown long off the racquet of Caroline Wozniacki, who'd been eliminated from the final tournament of her career, going out 5-7, 6-3, 5-7 to Tunisia's Ons Jabeur.

World congratulates Wozniacki on wonderful career

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Wozniacki calmly packed her bag, as if it were any other match. But minutes later, the emotions came pouring out, from Wozniacki, from Melbourne Arena and online, from the rest of the tennis world.

"I think it was only fitting that my last match would be a three-setter, a grinder, and that I would finish my career with a forehand error," Wozniacki told Chanda Rubin in her on-court interview. "I guess this was just meant to be."

Wozniacki was joined on the court by her father, her husband, her mother and her brother, prior to a send-off fit for an Australian Open winner and longtime world No. 1:

"I can't answer Caroline questions—I'm gonna be crying," Serena Williams said in press, following a tough defeat of her own. "She's one of my best friends in the world, and we'll have a great life for the rest of our lives together. But I will miss her out on tour."

Nicole Gibbs, the other player closely associated with Wozniacki, had an entire tribute to her on her Instagram story. It said:

"To my friend, mentor, personal hero, @carowozniacki ... You're the definition of class and humility ... Despite owning at everything you do ... I can't wait to see (& 3rd wheel) whatever's next for you and @davidlee ... Take a bow."

That was only one of many gushing messages she received online. Jabeur herself reached out:

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As did Wozniacki's now-fellow retirees:

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As well as many, many WTA players:

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The WTA even made a video with words from the top men's superstars:

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"I want to congratulate you on all the things you achieved, and at the same time, to be very nice to everyone," Rafael Nadal said.

"You were playing in front of me and your matches took forever," said Roger Federer, "but that's okay; I loved watching you play."

And her fans will miss her presence in tennis maybe as much as anyone:

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As Wozniacki's decade and a half on tour comes to a close, it's becoming clear that tennis is about to lose a whole lot of fighting spirit—and just as much sunshine.