Shrugging off three-year break, former World No. 1 Wozniacki starts comeback with first-round 6-2, 6-2 win over Australian Kimberly Birrell
Caroline Wozniacki returns to Kimberly Birrell in Montreal on Tuesday. Pic/Getty Images
Former World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki made a triumphant comeback in her return to competition after a layoff of more than three years at the WTA Montreal Open on Tuesday. The 33-year-old Danish star defeated 115th-ranked Australian qualifier Kimberly Birrell 6-2, 6-2 in her comeback match at the hardcourt event, a tune-up for the US Open, which starts on August 28 in New York. “I’m happy,” Wozniacki said.
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‘Was fun to be out there’
“A little tired. It was just fun to be out there again playing on centre court in front of a big crowd. I’m just thrilled that I could win my first match in three and a half years.” Her second-round opponent will be reigning Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, the Czech World No. 10 who ousted Egypt’s 33rd-ranked Mayar Sherif 6-4, 6-2.
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Wozniacki, the 2018 Australian Open champion, retired after a third-round loss at the 2020 Australian Open. She gave birth to two children and became a television commentator, her WTA playing days seemingly complete. But Wozniacki announced in June that she was making a comeback and received wildcard entries into Montreal and next week’s Cincinnati tournament as stepping-stones to the US Open, where she was runner-up in 2009 and 2014.
Spent 71 weeks as No. 1
Before her retirement, Wozniacki won 30 titles and 635 career matches. She spent 71 weeks atop the rankings. Now she has her first match victory as a mother, having given birth to son James and daughter Olivia in the 1,293 days since being ousted by Ons Jabeur at Melbourne in 2020. “That’s pretty crazy,” she said. “I was just looking at the clock, actually. My kids are napping right now which is awesome. So, I will catch them after I do a little bit of treatment and food and stuff. That’s the good part of playing early. I still have the afternoon with them.”
Murray, Zverev master Toronto wind to win
Former Toronto Masters winners Andy Murray and Alexander Zverev dispatched first-round opponents in windy conditions on Tuesday to power into the second round of the Canadian hardcourt event. Britain’s Murray worked through a marathon opening set before dominating the second for a 7-6 (7/3), 6-0 victory over Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego. Germany’s Zverev, who defeated Roger Federer for the 2017 Canadian title, reached the second round by defeating Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor 6-4, 7-6 (7/3). Third seed Casper Ruud began his US Open run-up after a bye, struggling at the start but wrapping up a 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 defeat of Jiri Lehecka for a 199th career ATP match win.
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