Wozniacki’s ‘sh***y’ start to the year continues

Former world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki was unable to hide her disgust after her fall from grace continued with a deflating first-round exit from the Australian Open.

The two-time grand slam finalist went down 1-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 to Kazakhstan youngster Yulia Putintseva at Melbourne Park on Monday.

“I would say it’s a pretty s****y start to the season. It wasn’t a pretty first set but I got it done and really should have closed it off in two,” Wozniacki said after blowing a 6-1 4-2 advantage against the world No.76.

“I let her back into the match and it was basically my own fault that I’m not here as the winner.”

The defeat leaves the Dane in danger of dropping out of the world’s top 20 after the Open and the 25-year-old admits she’s unsure how, when, where or if she’ll get her season back on track.

“I don’t know. I haven’t really gotten that far yet,” Wozniacki said.

“But I guess just go back on the practice court and that’s really all you can do.”

Wozniacki has ventured beyond the fourth round just twice in the past 17 majors since topping the rankings for 67 weeks in 2010-11.

Wozniacki’s Australian Open record mirrors her alarming slide.

A semi-finalist at Melbourne Park while at the peak of her powers in 2011, Wozniacki has tumbled out a round earlier every year since until flopping in her opener on Monday.