Wozniacki diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis

Danish tennis star has known since August, but only revealed the news following her elimination from the WTA Finals today

Caroline Wozniacki has been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis – a painful condition that causes swelling and stiffness in the joints, for which there is no known cure, although medication and other treatments can relieve symptoms.

The 28-year-old tennis star has known since August, but only revealed the news today following her elimination from the WTA Finals, in which she was beaten in three sets by Elina Svitolina.

“I didn’t want to talk about it during the year because I didn’t want to give anyone the edge or anyone thinking that I’m not feeling well, because I have been feeling well,” she told media.

First noticed issues in July
Wozniacki first began to notice fatigue after Wimbledon in July when she woke up and was unable to lift her arms over her head.

“In the beginning, it was a shock. It’s obviously not ideal for anybody – particularly when you’re a professional athlete,” she said.

“You feel like you’re the fittest athlete out there and all of a sudden you have this to deal with.”

Can’t keep a champion down
However, since the diagnosis she has returned to winning ways, triumphing in the China Open earlier this month.

“You learn how to cope after matches. Some days you wake up and you can’t get out of bed and you just have to know that’s how it is, but other days you’re fine. You don’t even feel like you have it,” she said.

“Winning was huge. It also gave me the belief that nothing is going to set me back. I’m going to work with this and this is how it is, and I can do anything.”

Wants to become a role model
Ultimately, Wozniacki wants to become a role model for other people living with the pain of rheumatoid arthritis, which rarely strikes people before their 40s.

“I know there are a lot of people in the world fighting with this, and hopefully I can be someone they can look up to and say that if I can do this, then they can too,” she said.

“And you just kind of have to get together and pull each other up.”

 




  • Diplomatic tensions between US and Denmark after spying rumors

    Diplomatic tensions between US and Denmark after spying rumors

    A Wall Street Journal article describes that the US will now begin spying in Greenland. This worries the Danish foreign minister, who wants an explanation from the US’s leading diplomat. Greenlandic politicians think that Trump’s actions increase the sense of insecurity

  • Diplomacy meets Westeros: a dinner with the King, Queen – and Jaime Lannister

    Diplomacy meets Westeros: a dinner with the King, Queen – and Jaime Lannister

    What do King Frederik X, Queen Mary, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and Jaime Lannister have in common? No, this isn’t the start of a very specific Shakespeare-meets-HBO fanfiction — it was just Wednesday night in Denmark

  • Huge boost to halt dropouts from vocational education

    Huge boost to halt dropouts from vocational education

    For many years, most young people in Denmark have preferred upper secondary school (Gymnasium). Approximately 20 percent of a year group chooses a vocational education. Four out of 10 young people drop out of a vocational education. A bunch of millions aims to change that

  • Beloved culture house saved from closure

    Beloved culture house saved from closure

    At the beginning of April, it was reported that Kapelvej 44, a popular community house situated in Nørrebro, was at risk of closing due to a loss of municipality funding

  • Mette Frederiksen: “If you harm the country that is hosting you, you shouldn’t be here at all”

    Mette Frederiksen: “If you harm the country that is hosting you, you shouldn’t be here at all”

    With reforms to tighten the rules for foreigners in Denmark without legal residency, and the approval of a reception package for internationals working in the care sector, internationals have been under the spotlight this week. Mette Frederiksen spoke about both reforms yesterday.

  • Tolerated, but barely: inside Denmark’s departure centers

    Tolerated, but barely: inside Denmark’s departure centers

    Currently, around 170 people live on “tolerated stay” in Denmark, a status for people who cannot be deported but are denied residency and basic rights. As SOS Racisme draws a concerning picture of their living conditions in departure centers, such as Kærshovedgård, they also suggest it might be time for Denmark to reinvent its policies on deportation

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.