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Former world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki has hit out at television pundit Peter Bastiansen and alleged that he has been bullying her for '20 years' after pointed comments made about her potential retirement.
The Danish tennis star announced her retirement from the sport after the 2020 Australian Open, seemingly calling time on a glittering career that has seen her win the title in Melbourne, hold the No 1 ranking, and secure a WTA Finals trophy.
But in 2023, following the birth of both her daughter Olivia, four, and son James, three, Wozniacki returned to court, announcing her decision that summer in a personal essay written for Vogue.
The 35-year-old enjoyed a handful of strong performances, making the US Open fourth round both that year and in 2024, and reaching the quarter-finals at Indian Wells.
But after defeat to Beatriz Haddad Maia at the last year's tournament in New York, Wozniacki has not played since, and in July welcomed her third child with her former NBA-player husband David Lee, Max.
Wozniacki has issued no public statement about her return, nor any decision to retire from her on-court second act, but in an interview with Bastiansen this week, the commentator weighed in on what a 'parody' he believes it would be if she was to take a spot in the Australian Open draw.
Caroline Wozniacki hit back at a Danish pundit who suggested her return to court next year would be a 'parody'
The 35-year-old has not played a competitive match since the 2024 US Open fourth round
'I can't understand why she doesn't announce it,' Bastiansen told Danish outlet B.T. 'I mean, what's the point of not doing so?
'She's never, ever coming back to top-level tennis. That ship has sailed. Why doesn't she just say it? There's nothing wrong or unnatural about that. All great sports stars make such announcements, so I just don't get it.'
Bastiansen added that he would 'fall off his chair' if she played Down Under.
'It would be a parody if she did,' he said. 'It would be deeply unserious. I can't see why the organisers would even bother to give her a wildcard'.
Former Australian Open champion Wozniacki was quick to respond to the jibe on social media, and did not hold back in her critique of why Bastiansen had no business assessing her career choices.
'It's now been more than 20 years that Peter Bastiansen has bullied me and attacked me personally in the media, talking about things he doesn't understand,' Wozniacki posted to her Instagram Story over a screenshot showing his article.
'Peter, you're a clown, and as a so-called "tennis expert" you should know the rules. It can be hard to keep track of them when you've never played at a high level yourself.
'But I have a frozen ranking of world No. 71, which means I don't need wildcards to enter the big tournaments.'
Peter Bastiansen argued that awarding Wozniacki a wildcard - which would not require due to her protected ranking - would be waste
The former Australian Open champion was adamant that the pundit had been bullying her
Wozniacki made her first return to the court in the summer of 2023 following the birth of her two eldest children
Most recently Wozniacki was in Ischia with her former NBA star husband David Lee to celebrate Venus Williams' wedding
'After many years of hard training and top-level tennis, I have the right to do what's best for my family. 'I don't understand why TV 2, B.T., and other media outlets keep using his quotes when there are many far better experts in Denmark.'
When contacted for comment on Wozniacki's riposte, Bastiansen told the same outlet that he had no wish to enter a 'war of words' with the 30-time WTA title-holder.
Wozniacki's return to court would be far from unusual, with her friend Venus Williams stepping back onto court with some success after an extended break this season.
The 44-year-old had not played since the 2024 Miami Open, when she lost in the opening round to Diana Shnaider, but made hay with a wildcard at this year's Washington and Cincinnati Opens.
Williams lost her tricky first-round contest against Karolina Muchova at the US Open in the singles, but had more success with a promising doubles run alongside Leylah Fernandez, reaching the quarter-finals.
Wozniacki - who is one of sister Serena's closest friends - and Williams reunited later this September when the 35-year-old was a guest at her wedding to Andrew Preti on the Italian island of Ischia.
