It has been a good start to 2018 for Caroline Wozniacki.
At 27-years-old, one of the finest tennis players of her generation finally managed to secure a Grand Slam win; overcoming Simona Halep in an incredibly tight Australian Open final.
Yet, without much chance to rest on her laurels, Wozniacki was back in business in this year's Qatar Open event.
Safely through to the quarter-final of the event, the Danish player did not enjoy the most straight forward of matches against another Romanian opponent in Martina Niculescu.
Although she would take the match in straight sets, Wozniacki took serious umbrage with what she felt was Niculescu's excessive gamesmanship.
The method of her apparent sneaky tactics? Creative grunting, of course.
Video of Wozniacki’s main complaint session, in which she implied that cheating was “the only way she can win.” (via @UnArdeal) pic.twitter.com/hvAkGdJfL0
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) February 15, 2018
Going to the extent of recreating for the umpire the contrasting sounds that were coming from Niculescu on Wozniacki's shots, the umpire was having none of that.
According to some of those covering the event however, Wozniacki's complaints won't sit well with a locker room that holds Niculescu and her conduct in high regard.
Wozniacki started complaining about Niculescu’s grunting when the first set started slipping away from her, then essentially accused Niculescu of gamesmanship in the on-court interview.
Don’t think that will play well in the locker room—few with a better reputation than Monica.— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) February 15, 2018
Wozniacki however reaffirmed her belief that Niculescu had "tried to get into her head".
Gotta admire the audacity of Wozniacki. She's the one who stopped the play and did an imitation of her opponent, and then say "Niculescu getting her head" is "not what tennis is about". pic.twitter.com/BLpSTilOsf
— Ashish TV (@Ashish__TV) February 15, 2018
The Dane will now play Angelique Kerber in the quarter-final.
