Dubai : Caroline Wozniacki, the top seed at the 2010 Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships, is hoping she can be a perfect role model to oversee a revolution of the sport back home in Denmark.
"A lot of young boys and girls are starting to play and there seems to be a lot of increased interest in tennis at the moment. When I am in Denmark sometimes, and when I go to the courts, there are so many of these youngsters with their adidas kits and Babolat racquets. It is so cute to see them like that. And then while I am playing, all of them keep looking at me and watching me. It is a nice feeling and I am sure we will get some players coming through the ranks shortly," Wozniacki told media here.
"I am just trying to be a good role model for them and hopefully, I am doing a good job," she smiled.
Though just 19 years, Wozniacki has risen through the ranks and is currently World No. 3 on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. She is in fact the only Danish woman currently in the top-400, and much of her success on and off court has been ascribed to her father and coach, Piotr. "He knows me so well. He's been coaching me for such a long time. He's just been following all my matches, he knows all my progress and he knows me as a player and he knows the other players too, so his contribution is immense to my game," she explained.
"And he is my best friend too. We can talk anything with each other and he knows when to step back. He knows when to push me a bit more. I think this is great and it is important for my personality as I can say what I want to say and how I feel. It's not like I have to watch out against a coach as I may have to think twice before saying something or the coach is afraid of telling you straight as he may lose his job. I think our relationship is different," Wozniacki stated.
With so much of travelling to be done, her father in fact has asked her on several occasions if she wants to change him as the coach. "I need someone who knows me well and who will act as a guide and say things at the right moment because I am so focused while I am on the court. It is here that my dad is the best person. And besides, he is family and it is good to have family travel with you. It can be pretty hard even though you may have friends along," she said.
"And besides, you can't fire your father."
