Australian Open champ Caroline Wozniacki diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis
Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki revealed at the WTA Finals that she has been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis but hopes it will not severely affect her career.
As her 2018 season came to a close Thursday with a loss to Elina Svitolina in Singapore, the former women's No. 1 player told reporters she was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease before the US Open.
"In the beginning, it was a shock, just you feel like you're the fittest athlete out there, or that's in my head, that's what I'm known for, and all of a sudden you have this to work with," Wozniacki, 28, said. She is currently No. 3 in the WTA rankings.
She said she first began feeling fatigued after Wimbledon, and the resulting symptoms, which include inflammation in the joints, caused her to retire from her first-round match in Cincinnati.
"I think I didn't want to talk about it obviously during the year because I don't want to give anyone the edge or thinking that I'm not feeling well, but I have been feeling well," Wozniacki said.
Since her diagnosis, Wozniacki said she has been taking medication and receiving treatment in an attempt to manage her symptoms. Even after being diagnosed, she won the China Open last month for her third title of the season.
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