Former World Number One, Caroline Wozniacki, has announced she will retire in 2020 after the Australian Open in Melbourne.

She will bring her impressive career to a close at the Australian Open, where she won her first Grand Slam title in 2018.

The 29-year-old Dane has won 30 WTA singles titles, winning six in 2010 and 2011. In 2010 she became the first Scandinavian woman to reach the top of the rankings in tennis history. 

“I’ve thought about it for a long time,” she told People magazine. “It’s obviously not an easy decision, and I don’t think it ever would be.

“Tennis is something that I’ve done for my entire life, and I wake up and I practice and I play tournaments, but there are so many other things out there that I’d love to do.”

Wozniacki was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis before the US Open in 2018 but says her diagnosis was not a factor in her decision to retire.

“I don’t think it is hindering me. It makes some things more challenging, but I feel great in the day-to-day.

“I feel like I can do anything, and I’ve won some of the biggest titles of my career with this illness.”

In fact, she won the Australian Open in January of 2018 the China Open last year after being diagnosed with RA.

Following her diagnosis, Wozniacki plans to raise awareness of RA in her life post-tennis.

“We’re launching a new health education campaign centred around rheumatoid arthritis. I felt that it was important that I use my platform to share my story and show that anything is possible, regardless of RA.”

Another part of her decision came from wanting to start a family with her former NBA husband David Lee, who she married in June.

“We want to start a family,” she said. “And I can’t wait to spend more time with my friends and family that I haven’t been able to over the past 20 years that I’ve been travelling.”