2015 Preview: WTA No. 8, Caroline Wozniacki

Talk about a roller-coaster year. A loss in Caroline Wozniacki’s personal life—her fiancé, Rory McIlroy, broke off their engagement in May—coincided with a big gain in her professional life. In danger of falling out of the Top 20 before the break-up, she rebounded to reach the US Open final, finish the season No. 8 and finish her first marathon in a stunningly fast time (3:26). The only reason Wozniacki didn’t go further at the end of the year was that she kept running into, and losing close matches to, her friend Serena Williams.

It had appeared that Wozniacki’s best years were behind her—she finished No. 1 in 2010 and 2011, before dropping to No. 10 in 2012 and 2013. Now, at 24, it looks like she’s in her prime again. Not only did she start going deep at tournaments, she started beating players who had seemingly passed her by; Wozniacki finished with wins over Maria Sharapova, Agnieszka Radwanska and Petra Kvitova in Singapore. Look for her to rise a little more in the rankings to start 2015; she doesn’t have a lot of points to defend early in the year.

Granted, Wozniacki was a Slam-less No. 1, but she also held that position for two years, so she knows how to win consistently, and she showed at the end of 2014 that she can still hang with today’s more powerful top players. Finally settling on a coach—her father, of course—should also help. With her renewed desire, the Top 5 awaits.

The results from late last year were positive, but Wozniacki still suffers from a power deficiency against her peers. She had actually begun to talk about retirement before her break-up with McIlroy; does she still have the desire to make tennis her life again over the long haul?

A rededicated Woznaicki showed that she can still compete at the top of the sport in 2014. Her best years no longer appear to be behind her; at 24, she’s in her prime again.

For more 2015 season previews, click here.