2012 Australian Open: Wrist Injury Threatens to Sideline Caroline Wozniacki

Carolina Wozniacki was brought to tears during her recent loss at the Sydney International because of a wrist injury, and it's uncertain how much it will hurt her in the 2012 Australian Open. 

According to The Guardian, Wozniacki will get her wrist looked at on Thursday. 

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I hope it's not serious. I could feel it today, especially in the third set. I'm going to go get it checked out tomorrow and hopefully it's OK. Let's just hope for the best. I should be fine for Australian Open [but] I started feeling it more and more during the match.

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What Does It Mean? 

The injury is a huge setback in Wozniacki's quest for her first Grand Slam. Her loss to Agnieszka Radwanska could be the end of her reign as the No. 1 women's tennis player in the world. 

With Venus Williams already pulled out of the 2012 Australian Open, the women's bracket would become much less appealing if Wozniacki is unable to compete. 

As the first Grand Slam event of the year, tennis really needs it to start off with a bang. The men's division will be just fine, as always, but with the women's top stars getting hurt is very unfortunate. 

Fans and casual fans will be turned off by not having the big names competing in the 2012 Australian Open, so the hope is that Wozniacki will be good to go. 

If Wozniacki has to withdraw from the tournament, tennis will suffer greatly. 

What Happens Next? 

Since the 2012 Australian Open is just days away, it's unclear if Wozniacki will be at full health. 

Wozniacki may feel fine now, and the rest could help. However, once she gets into fierce competition, her wrist could haunt her. 

Practicing and actually playing are completely different things, as Wozniacki will be giving it her all in each round she plays. That is, of course, if she actually plays.

In 2011, Wozniacki had her best outing at the Australian Open, reaching the semi-finals. Hoping to build off that, Wozniacki's focus now must turn completely toward her health as opposed to competing for a title.

injuries are a part of the sport, and star players must be careful in how they handle them. Tennis needs the stars to play in these Grand Slams, but risking further injury is not a smart move. 

Wozniacki has the whole season ahead of her, so if she misses the 2012 Australian Open, she'll have plenty of opportunities to win big later in the year.