After a three-year hiatus from the tennis courts, former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki made a triumphant return, defeating Kimberly Birrell 6-2, 6-2 in the opening round of the Canadian Open in Montreal on Tuesday.
“It’s wonderful to be back,” Wozniacki beamed post-match. “Playing in Montreal after such a long break, it feels both familiar and new. There’s a bit of rust to shake off, but this city has always been special for me.”
The 2018 Australian Open victor had revealed her plans for a tennis comeback in an intimate essay penned for Vogue in June. Aged 33, Wozniacki found herself back in training after the birth of her second child last October, realising the void tennis had left in her life.
Montreal’s Centre Court, brimming with ardent fans, welcomed Wozniacki with an overhead banner reading, “Bon retour Caro”. The nostalgic tune of “Sweet Caroline” played as she made her entrance. Some early match jitters were evident, with Wozniacki double-checking the warmup duration with the umpire, asking, “Is there a four-minute warmup now?”
Despite a rocky start, the 2010 tournament winner, who secured her spot through a wild card, soon found her rhythm. She eventually overpowered Birrell, the world No. 115, in 1 hour and 37 minutes.
As the match concluded, an elated Wozniacki celebrated, hands raised high, absorbing the adulation of a standing ovation. Her next opponent? The victor of the face-off between Wimbledon champ Marketa Vondrousova and Mayar Sherif.
Before her break, Wozniacki had an illustrious 71-week run as No. 1 and claimed 30 WTA titles. The 2020 Australian Open marked her last professional match before she opted for retirement, focusing on family life with husband, ex-NBA All-Star David Lee, and welcoming two children; Olivia in June 2021 and James in October 2022.
Now, Wozniacki joins the likes of Victoria Azarenka, Elina Svitolina, and Taylor Townsend as tennis-playing mothers on the WTA Tour. After her morning match, she shared with fans that her young ones were currently taking their nap, and she looked forward to a relaxed afternoon with them.
Fans can anticipate Wozniacki’s participation in the forthcoming Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati and the US Open, where she’s been a finalist twice. She’s been granted wild cards for both tournaments. Her confidence was palpable in her Vogue piece, where she optimistically projected, “Can I win the US Open? I believe I can. The Australian Open? Why not! I’m back for a reason. Let’s see how the journey unfolds.”
