The Busted Racquet Interview: Caroline Wozniacki

Caroline Wozniacki is in Los Angeles preparing to play at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells starting this week. On Monday night, Busted Racquet spoke to the world No. 1 about her changing media image, visiting Serena Williams, Twitter flirting and why tennis players seem to love The Cheesecake Factory so much.

Busted Racquet: I'm feeling a little pressure talking to you after your bravura press conference performance at the Australian Open. Have you found that the members of the press have stepped up their game in asking you questions since then?

Caroline Wozniacki: [Laughs] Yeah, I actually think they're thinking a little more about the questions now and they find more entertaining and more fun as well.

BR: What's the worst question you found yourself getting asked? And please don't say this one.

Wozniacki: [Laughs] I don't know, I always get the question "how do you feel after the game today?" and, of course, if you're winning you feel great and if you lose you don't feel good. I think that's a pretty obvious question.

BR: I've always wondered what there is to say after winning a first-round match two and two. How much can you possible come up with?

Wozniacki: Exactly. It's pretty difficult to answer different ways all the time, especially if you get the same questions. It's just fun to mix it up and to make the journalists think a little more as well.

BR: After the first press conference at the Australian Open, you had another where you made up a kangaroo story. A few hours later you had to come back and apologize for that because many journalists believed you. Were you more sorry that you played the joke or that some gullible folks didn't get that it was a joke?

Wozniacki: I was more sorry that they didn't realize it was a joke because then they had to go back and take their articles back. I actually wasn't sorry that I played the joke because I thought it was kind of funny but I had to go back to the people who actually believed the story and tell them there was no kangaroo.

BR: In a span of three days the perception of you changed. People had called you boring before and then all of a sudden people were saying it was one of the funniest press conferences they could remember.

Wozniacki: I think that's my personality, to have a good laugh and not to take myself too seriously. And of course I have my things on the court but when I'm off the court I just like to have fun. That showed in those press conferences.

BR: Speaking of off the court, you went and went to see Serena Williams at her house today?

Wozniacki: I did. I just wanted to see how she's doing. She's a good friend of mine and of course when I heard the news I was a bit afraid so I wanted to stop by and see how she was doing. And I'm in Los Angeles.

BR: And she is doing well?

Wozniacki: She's doing well. She's keeping her head high and of course she's strong, not only on the court but off as well. She has a strong personality and she'll be fine.

BR

: You're appearing in the upcoming video game, Top Spin 4. There's a lot of players in there, including the old school Agassi with the mullet and neon. If you had to pick one player to play with, who would it be?

Wozniacki: I think it'd probably be pretty cool to play as Michael Chang. I remember the match where he was cramping up and he managed to pull through for the win.

BR: I'm one of your 91,000 followers on Twitter and see that last night you dined at The Cheesecake Factory with Agnieska Radwanska. Tennis players seem to love that place. Can you shed some light on this?

Wozniacki: I love The Cheesecake Factory, especially the chicken marsala. I almost always pick that dish, it tastes unblievable.

BR: But why is it so popular?

Wozniacki: It's big portions, good food and they have everything. The menu is so big.

BR: I'm going to run a disclaimer that this line of questioning wasn't paid for by The Cheesecake Factory.

Wozniacki: [Laughs]

(This line of questioning was not paid for by The Cheesecake Factory. I was just really curious and happened to eat there the same night. -- CC)

BR: Another Twitter question. Many have noticed that you seem to have a very playful relationship with one John Isner. When I asked some of my followers what I should ask you they said "ask her about Isner." So, here's my question about your Twitter-ship with John Isner.

Wozniacki: [Laughs] John is a very good friend of mine and we've known each other for so many years. We have the same agent, so we know each other very well and I just like to tease him a little bit because he just thinks that he's too big-time and he needs to get his feet on the ground a little bit [laughs].

BR: Do you watch much men's tennis when you're at tournaments with the men or on television when you're not?

Wozniacki: Yeah, I like to watch the men play. I like the way that they're playing and I can always learn something from them. They're playing differently than the woman so I like to learn from them as well.

BR: Speaking of play, you're in California for Indian Wells. The draw came out today. You say you don't ever look at the draws. Really?

Wozniacki: To be honest, I haven't looked at the draw. I actually don't even know who I'm going to play. I know I have a bye in the first round.

BR: I can see how you can avoid hearing who you're playing in a second-round match at Indian Wells. I won't spoil the surprise for you. But at a Grand Slam can you get to the second or third round and not hear the chatter about who you're going to play?

Wozniacki: It depends. Sometimes when you get to the press conferences you hear you're going to play this person in the semifinals and in the quarters you're going to play her. And I'm like, "hold on a second." First of all, you have to make it there. Second, your opponent needs to make it there. It looks easier on paper than it is in real life. There are so many tough opponents out there and tough competitors so I've never liked to look ahead. There are always some surprises in the draw when people are playing pretty well.

BR: Earlier this year you fell from No. 1 in the rankings for one week. You mentioned that it was sort of nice not to hear the questions about being No. 1. That only lasted a few days though and then you were back at the top. Was it nicer for those seven days or for the days since?

Wozniacki: I really like being No. 1 and that's a great achievement. It's something I've always worked for. To be honest, I don't know. The second time I became No. 1, even though it was only for one week that I didn't have it, the media don't ask me any more about deserving it. I think they got tired of asking that question, so it's nice to be back there.

BR: Have to ask; we spell racquet with a "Q" here at Busted Racquet. How do you like your racquet. With a "Q" or with a "K"?

Wozniacki: With a "Q."

BR: That's what I like to hear. Thanks and good luck at Indian Wells.

Wozniacki: [Laughs] Thanks.