Melbourne: Caroline Wozniacki said “nobody knows” how much hard work and sheer guts she had to put in before realising her Grand Slam dream.

Twelve years, 67 weeks at world number one, 149 Grand Slam matches, three major finals and countless disappointments were all made worthwhile on Saturday night when she was crowned Australian Open champion.

An epic 7-6 (7/2), 3-6, 6-4 win against Simona Halep in a near-three hour match in brutal heat and humidity also elevated her back to the top of the world rankings after a six-year hiatus, the longest gap in history between spells at the top.

“Honestly, nobody knows how much work, dedication you put into it,” she told reporters with the winner’s Daphne Akhurst Memorial Trophy by her side. Following Wozniacki’s second Slam final in New York in 2014, where she lost to Serena Williams, her fitness and form went on the slide.

Many observers believed she was finished and would retire, but the determined Dane had other ideas.

“All I could tell myself was: ‘You know what, you’ve given it everything you have. If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen’.”

“I think just I’d been through a lot of injuries at that point,” the 27-year-old reflected. “Then you start losing to some players who you’re not really thinking you should lose to. It’s frustrating. I was, like, hoping eventually it’s going to turn around.”

‘It’s surreal’

Unseeded, she reached the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows that year, losing to eventual champion Angelique Kerber, and it kickstarted her climb back up the rankings.

“Since then I’ve been playing really consistent and really well,” she said.

“Being here tonight as a Grand Slam champion, Australian Open champion, it’s very special,” she said.

“It’s still pretty surreal. It’s been a crazy last 10 hours or so. I think I’m overwhelmed, I had an hour and a half sleep last night,” she added.

Agence France-Presse