Like boyfriend McIlroy, Wozniacki misses cut

Caroline Wozniacki sat atop the women’s tennis rankings for two seasons, but after her latest Grand Slam failure, it’s hard to see how she can get back on her perch.

The girlfriend of Rory McIlroy had plenty to cheer last week when golf’s world No 1 landed a megabucks deal with Nike, but there was less to celebrate on court at the Australian Open.

The Dane, now ranked at 10th in the world, made it safely to the fourth round, but she came unstuck today against Russian veteran Svetlana Kuznetsova, going down in three hard-fought sets.

Wozniacki was left to contemplate her worst Melbourne showing in three years, and with her sole Grand Slam final, at the 2009 US Open, now a fading memory, a first major title remains a remote prospect.

“There is still a long year in front of me. There are still a few things I can work on and, you know, it can be better,” she said. “But at the same time, there are so many things I think I did well at this tournament, as well.”

Wozniacki was the centre of attention two years ago in Melbourne when she made up a story about being attacked by a kangaroo, and had to apologise afterwards. She also hit back at accusations she was “boring” by sending up the repetitive questions she faces at press conferences.