Updated 00:02 | Published 2023-08-08 20:54
1,292 days.
It was so long ago that Caroline Wozniacki played a professional match.
In the WTA tournament in Montreal, she made a long-awaited comeback – and it ended with immediate success.
– It feels fantastic, says the 33-year-old Dane in the victory interview.
The last time she played a professional match was in the 2020 Australian Open.
Since then, a lot has happened. Among other things, she has started a family with her husband, former NBA player David Lee. In 2021, daughter Olivia was born and in October last year, son James was born.
But in her comeback on the WTA tour against the 115-ranked Australian, Kimberly Birrell, it was hard to believe that Caroline Wozniacki had been away from tennis for more than 3.5 years.
The former world number one acted inspired on the court and won the match easily in two straight sets with the numbers 6–2, 6–2.
First victory as a mother
She is thus through to the second round. There she faces tough opposition in the form of Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova from the Czech Republic, who defeated the 33rd-ranked Egyptian Mayar Sherif 6–4 6–2.
– It feels fantastically good. First match in over three years, so it was definitely a little rusty, said the Dane in the victory interview.
The victory was her first in over three years and eight months – and her first since becoming a mother.
– It’s pretty crazy. I actually just checked the clock. They sleep at noon now, which is cruel, says Wozniacki and laughs.
The match started a bit shaky for the Dane, who was broken directly in the opening game of the first set. But then she played herself up and dropped just one more game in the set, which was over in 43 minutes.
Tried the fans: “Always the best”
In the second set, the players were tied at 2–2. But then Wozniacki broke Birrell’s serve to 4–2 and was then able to take home the set and the match unchallenged.
Afterwards, she took the opportunity to pay tribute to the audience in Montreal.
– What a fantastic place to come back to and play my first match. I love playing here in Montréal. I have lots of great memories from here and the fans are always the best.
Wozniacki has previously said her long-term goal is to play in the Paris Olympics next summer.
But first the US Open is coming up at the end of the month, where she has received a wildcard.
– There’s an electric atmosphere in New York that I can’t get enough of, and I’ve played so well there for many years, she said when she announced her comeback plans in June.
Caroline Wozniacki.
1 / 3Photo: Christine Muschi / AP
2023-08-08 22:01:54
#star #days #Fantastic
