Chris Evert: Ex-Knick deserves credit for Wozniacki’s rebound
Tennis legend Chris Evert doesn’t follow the NBA, but nonetheless gave kudos to former Knick David Lee for aiding in Caroline Wozniacki’s first-ever Grand Slam title at the Australian Open last weekend.
Lee, who played five seasons for the Knicks, and Wozniacki got engaged in November after Wozniacki captured her first WTA season-ending championship — her biggest win before the Aussie title.
“I feel he’s really given her added inspiration, motivation,” Evert told The Post on Friday in a phone interview while promoting her new partnership with Osteo Bi-Flex. “He’s been there, done that. He knows what pressure is all about. With his presence, there’s a sense of calm about her and better sense of focus.”
Wozniacki, 27, has come close before, losing in two U.S. Open Finals. But her 43rd major was the charm.
It is believed Lee and Wozniacki first were introduced after a Knicks-Celtics game two seasons ago when Lee played for Boston. They weren’t romantically linked, however, until September 2016.
The 6-foot Danish tennis standout has a place in Manhattan while the rugged rebounder played his first five seasons in New York as a double-double machine, and was an All-Star in 2010. Lee also won an NBA title with the Warriors in 2015.
“She paid her dues,’’ Evert, 63, said. “She deserves it. It was almost fate and meant to be. She won the WTA Finals, got engaged, won the Australian Open. It’s good to be Caroline Wozniacki right now.”
It’s also good to be Lee, who is veering into retirement gracefully after going unsigned as a free agent in 2017. He was very visible in Melbourne, sitting in Wozniacki’s box each match. Knicks owner James Dolan considers Lee one of his favorite Knicks based on his character.
“I know when I met my husband Andy Mill when I was playing, it was, ‘Oh my God.’ He traveled with me, it was like a resurgence,’’ Evert said. “For sure he’s helped her mentally and emotionally.”
Last U.S. Open, in September, Wozniacki was in an injury-riddled funk and nearly lost her first-round match with reports swirling she possibly would retire after the year.
“That might be David, might be the motivation,’’ Evert said of the decision to continue her career. “She’s always said, ‘When I’m happy off the court, it makes me happy on the court.’ He probably made her play more aggressively. He was an aggressive player. He saw the foundation of her game is to be really consistent. He’s probably saying, ‘Go after your shots and have faith in yourself.’”
Of course, Serena Williams didn’t play in Melbourne, and still is on the sidelines training for her return after giving birth Sept. 1, while the U.S. Open was going on. Williams is slated to return next week for the U.S. in a FedCup event — her first tennis in more than a year.
Based on her dogged determination, Evert says Williams could play “another four years.” But she believes it will challenge Serena more mentally than physically.
Evert said when she gave birth to her first child at age 36, her body returned “stronger.” However, she had already retired two years before.
“I couldn’t imagine raising a child and playing,’’ Evert said. “I was 100 percent totally devoted to the child. In this day and age, a woman can do it all. If anybody can do it, Serena can do it. But this year will tell it all.”
Evert cautions the women’s field is “better than 15 months ago’’ and considers Serena “a longshot’’ to win the next Slam event — the French Open this spring. But she won’t count her out for Wimbledon.
“She’ll have to be in great shape and motivated,’’ Evert said. “Anytime anyone doubts Serena, she comes through and she likes that. That’s when she comes into her glory. It will be really exciting for the women’s game. It’s going to be about her focus, not her body.’’