In a world where comebacks are often met with skepticism, can a former No. 1 reclaim her throne? Three years after her heartfelt Melbourne goodbye, Caroline Wozniacki charts her return. But with motherhood in one hand and a racket in the other, what drives the Danish champion back to the court?

We delve into her journey from battling rheumatoid arthritis to now stepping back into the professional arena, aiming for the 2024 Paris Olympics. What does this resurgence mean for the world of tennis?

Caroline Wozniacki returns from motherhood to the Olympics

Caroline Wozniacki, a former No.1 and 2018 Australian Open champion, announced her return to competition after retiring to start a family. She held the No. 1 spot in the WTA rankings for 71 weeks and earned 30 titles, including the first Grand Slam singles title for a Denmark player.

Caroline said, “It’s always a scary decision. But at the time, it felt like the absolute right decision for me. It was right before COVID-19. I wanted to have children. And so it was time for me to take a break and say, “I’m good.” And yeah, I had two beautiful children back to back. And then I decided, after James was born, I went back to court a couple of times now like, “Oh, I’m still hitting the ball. Well, I can still do this.” And as a family, we decided, You know what, we’re gonna give it another chance. And yeah, here we are back on tour with the family.”

“This is exciting for our sport, and for her fans, it’s wonderful to see another great WTA athlete return to the courts, after becoming a mother,” said WTA Chairman and CEO Steve Simon.

The U.S. Tennis Association granted Caroline Wozniacki a wild-card invitation to the U.S. Open, where she was defeated by the eventual champion Coco Gauff in the round of 16. Now, she is gearing up to appear in next season’s Montreal tournament, Australian Open, and Paris Olympics. Wozniacki is eligible to compete as of Aug. She also plans to represent Denmark at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

READ MORE: Caroline Wozniacki Makes an Incredible Return to Tennis Court After Retirement

Wozniacki comeback after memorable Melbourne goodbye

Caroline, a former top player, decided to give her career another chance after giving birth to her son, James. Despite the challenges, she felt the decision was the right one for her and her family, who now enjoy a successful tour together.

Three years later, Caroline surprised everyone when she announced her comeback to the professional circuit. She took to Twitter and wrote, “Over these last three years away from the game, I got to make up for lost time with my family. I became a mother and now have two lovely children, for which I am grateful. But I still have objectives I wish to achieve. No matter your age or position, you can achieve the goals that I want to demonstrate to my children. We all agreed that the moment had come. I can’t wait to play when I return!”

She stated in December 2019 that she would stop competing in professional tennis after the Australian Open. She said health concerns of battling rheumatoid arthritis did not motivate her decision, but her desire to start a family played a pivotal role. In January 2020, Ons Jabeur beat her in the third round of Melbourne. The crowd sang “Sweet Caroline” to her as they serenaded her. When her match ended, they honored her on the court.

Wozniacki’s journey, from Melbourne to Paris, combines passion, pain, and purpose. Despite rheumatoid arthritis and motherhood, her drive to win remains as fresh as ever. Will Wozniacki’s comeback rewrite history?

WATCH THIS STORY: ‘I Really Love…’ – Naomi Osaka Points to the Ancient Technique She Relies on for Keeping Calm 2 Years After Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas Vouched for It