Caroline Wozniacki will no longer be known as the best women’s tennis player never to win a Grand Slam title.
Wozniacki, the No. 2 seed, prevailed over No. 1 Simona Halep, 7-6, 3-6, 6-4 in 2 hours, 49 minutes to capture her maiden Slam title in the Australian Open final. She became the first person from Denmark to win a major championship.
“I’ve dreamt of this moment for so many years and to be here today is a dream come true,” she said. “My voice is shaking, I never cry, but today is a very emotional moment.”
The 27-year-old Dane, who lost her two previous Slam finals at the US Open in 2009 and 2014, will re-ascend to No. 1 in the world on Monday. She ended 2011 and ’12 as No. 1 but without having won a major.
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— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 27, 2018
After the match, Wozniacki went to celebrate with her team including her fiancé David Lee, the former NBA player who won an NBA championship with the Spurs.
“Of course I’m sad I couldn’t win but Caroline was better than me today,” said Halep, who has now lost all three major finals she has appeared in, including the Roland Garros finals in 2014 and ’17.
“Maybe the fourth time will be with luck.”
Both players had fought off match points to reach the final.
Wozniacki saved two match points and battled back from 5-1 down in the deciding set to beat Jana Fett in the second round.
“That was a crazy comeback. Now everything that I do is just a plus,” she said.
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— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 27, 2018
AMAZING ✨#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/GddvUXUmJA
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 27, 2018
