Caroline Wozniacki to compete in Indian Wells after five years with wildcard entry

Caroline Wozniacki has secured a wildcard entry for the 2024 Indian Wells, marking her comeback to the WTA 1000 tournament after a five-year absence. The Indian Wells Tennis Garden will host the 2024 BNP Paribas Open from March 6-17.

Wozniacki won the Indian Wells trophy in 2011, beating 15th seed Marion Bartoli 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 in the final. She also reached the final in 2010 and 2013, losing to Jelena Jankovic and Maria Sharapova in straight sets, respectively. The Dane’s latest appearance at the BNP Paribas Open was in 2019, where she faced a three-set defeat against Ekaterina Alexandrova in the first round.

The 2018 Australian Open champion recorded her weakest performance at the WTA 1000 tournament in 2007, 2016, and 2019, where she faced early exits.

“Excited to be back!! See you soon!,” the Dane wrote on her Instagram stories.

Wozniacki had a disappointing start to her 2024 season, where she lost in the first round to second seed Elina Svitolina in straight sets at the ASB Classic in Auckland. The Dane then kicked off her campaign at the Australian Open in Melbourne, where she faced 20th seed Magda Linette in the first round, who was eventually forced to retire mid-match due to a thigh injury.

Wozniacki faced defeat in the second round against Russian qualifier Maria Timofeeva in three sets.