LONDON: Caroline Wozniacki and Simona Halep both have the opportunity to deal a forehand smash at their past Grand Slam near-misses in Saturday’s Australian Open final.
While one will be able to end her hoodoo, the other will be left to to wonder if she will ever land one of the sport’s top four titles.
Both have been world No.1, and both have flirted with Slam success only to end up in the role of runner-up — Wozniacki losing twice at the US Open, Halep twice at Roland Garros.
And in a twist of fate, both enter the Australian Open final playing with what Wozniacki calls “house money” — they have each saved match points earlier in the tournament and feel they are making the most of their second chances.
In Halep’s case, it is actually a third chance. She saved match points against not one, but two opponents at Melbourne Park — Lauren Davis in the third round, and Angelique Kerber in the semifinal.
“I was not afraid of losing,” the top-seeded Halep said after surviving a thrilling, three-setter against Kerber.
“I won those balls, and then I got the confidence back that I’m still alive and I can do it.”
Wozniacki lost the 2009 US Open to Kim Clijsters, she then had a five-year wait for a second shot in New York, falling to Serena Williams in the 2014 final.
And now she hopes to go one better and get her hands on a major trophy.
“I always believed in myself,” Wozniacki said. “I was just giving myself time. I think if you don’t feel like you can go all the way in tournaments, then to me there’s no sense in playing. So for me it’s always I want to be competitive, I want to be the best, and that’s why I’m still playing.”
Caroline Wozniacki and Simona Halep both out to end Grand Slam hoodoo
Caroline Wozniacki and Simona Halep both out to end Grand Slam hoodoo
‘Winning mindset’: Yazeed Al-Rajhi ready to defend title at Dakar 2026
- Race runs from Jan. 3-17, will start and conclude in Yanbu
YANBU: Saudi rally star Yazeed Al-Rajhi is gearing up to defend his Dakar Rally title as the 2026 edition of the race kicks off in Yanbu on Jan. 3.
Last year’s victory confirmed Al-Rajhi as the first Saudi driver to win the overall car category (Ultimate), the highest class in what is considered the world’s toughest rally.
Al-Rajhi said: “We are approaching Dakar 2026 with great determination and an even greater sense of responsibility after our achievement in 2025. Winning the title was a historic moment, but the real challenge now is defending it. The car is fully ready, the team is working as one, and our objective from the start is clear: to fight for victory and secure a strong opening to the W2RC season.”
He highlighted the complete readiness of co-driver Timo Gottschalk as the team looks to repeat last year’s success in their Overdrive Toyota Hilux.
Gottschalk said: “The preparation for this season has been intense and extremely precise. We focused on every aspect Dakar demands in terms of concentration and discipline. Our synergy is at its best, and we are ready to manage the rally stage by stage, intending to fight for victory from day one.”
The Dakar Rally 2026, set to run from Jan. 3-17, will cover 7,994 km, with 4,840 km of timed stages across Saudi Arabia’s diverse landscapes. It will consist of 13 competitive stages, in addition to a prologue stage, with a rest day in the capital city. The rally will start and conclude in Yanbu, featuring seven loop stages and two marathon stages, which significantly increase the level of difficulty and place greater physical and technical demands on crews and teams.
Al-Rajhi has also expressed his desire to compete for the title of the World Rally-Raid Championship W2RC. Since the championship’s launch in 2022, he has finished runner-up twice and third overall once, highlighting his consistency at the highest level. The Saudi star said that his clear objective this season is to claim the W2RC title, with Dakar serving as the opening round of the championship.
Al-Rajhi acknowledged that competition this year will be extremely intense, but added that the goal has been clear from the outset: to defend the Dakar title and move forward steadily toward winning the World Rally-Raid Championship.
“Early preparation and attention to the smallest technical and physical details give us strong confidence heading into the rally,” he added. “We know the competition will be tough, but we enter Dakar with a winning mindset, aiming to deliver a complete season that reflects the name of Saudi Arabia and matches our global ambitions.”
Al-Rajhi extended his sincere gratitude and appreciation to Jameel Motorsport, his official partner, for their unwavering support. He credited their backing as one of the key pillars behind his continued success and achievements in the Kingdom.
