Caroline Wozniacki Forgot Her $1.45 Million Check at US Open

Caroline Wozniacki revived her career this season, with the highlight being a runner-up performance to Serena Williams at the U.S. Open, her first Grand Slam final appearance since 2009.

The placement offers a variety of perks, including financial gains in the form of a $1.45 million check, which she proceeded to leave behind at Flushing Meadows.    

After the swift 6-3, 6-3 defeat, she took her trophy, met the press and was gone.

"About 30 minutes later, however, she arrived back at the tennis center, a look of mild panic on her face," said Monica Langley of The Wall Street Journal. "'I forgot to pick up my prize money,'" Wozniacki said.

Darron Cummings/Associated Press

The gaffe speaks to Wozniacki's character that continues to grow in popularity as her form continues to swell back up the ranks. As agent and manager John Tobias told Langley, the current world No. 7 and former No. 1 did not even ask about an extra $500,000 headed her way due to bonuses from her various sponsors.

"I have enough to eat, buy nice shoes," she said. "For me, it's about the tennis and the trophies. I'm not motivated by money."

Wozniacki's path over the years and return to prominence is commonly centered on the narrative of her past relationship with world No. 1 golfer Rory McIlroy. After the golfer called off the wedding last spring, Wozniacki hit rock bottom with a first-round exit at the French Open.

Since then, Wozniacki has been on a warpath of good form, climbing the ranks and running up a 43-16 record while garnering positive press off the courts for speaking eight languages fluently and planning to partake in the New York City Marathon.

As the realm of women's tennis continues to transition thanks to progressing parity, the leader of the new guard is the 24-year-old Wozniacki, who says and does all the right things under the bright lights, even if she does forget to pick up her paychecks in a timely manner.

Stats and info via WTATennis.com unless otherwise specified.