Caroline Wozniacki, in her first aggressive fit after greater than 3 years away to begin a circle of relatives, cruised by way of Australian qualifier Kimberly Birrell 6-2 6-2 in Montreal on Tuesday to achieve the second one spherical of the Canadian Open.
The Danish wildcard, who introduced in June that she used to be popping out of retirement, confirmed nice anticipation, motion and shot variety right through the 97-minute fit that made it glance as even though she had by no means left the game.
“It simply feels nice to be again in the market competing,” Wozniacki, who received this tournament in 2010, stated in her on-court interview.
“I assumed I performed smartly within the first set, simply discovering my rhythm, after which I misplaced the rhythm slightly bit in the second one so it used to be a grind. However I’m simply satisfied that I in some way controlled to win that one.”
Wozniacki won a heat welcome when she walked directly to the Montreal court docket as Neil Diamond’s well-known “Candy Caroline” tune blared during the audio system whilst a “Welcome Again Caro” check in French coated a part of the higher seating stage.
The 33-year-old Wozniacki dropped the outlet sport on her serve however then constructed up a 3-1 lead and wrapped up the body in 42 mins when international quantity 115 Birrell dedicated 3 double faults whilst serving to increase the set.
Birrell stepped up the force in the second one set, which used to be on serve till Wozniacki took benefit of a few premature double faults by way of the Australian to drag forward 4-2.
From there, Wozniacki by no means regarded again, in the long run sealing the win on her first fit level when she despatched a backhand to the open court docket.
Up subsequent for Wozniacki, shall be a conflict with both ninth-seeded Czech Marketa Vondrousova, the Wimbledon champion, or Mayar Sherif of Egypt.
Wozniacki, mentioning her want to begin a circle of relatives along with her husband, former NBA participant David Lee, retired from tennis after the 2020 Australian Open. She has since given beginning to her two kids, Olivia and James.
The Dane is the newest Grand Slam champion to go back to aggressive tennis after changing into a mom, an inventory that incorporates Serena Williams, Kim Clijsters — who received 3 Grand Slams after beginning a circle of relatives — and Victoria Azarenka.
Wozniacki, the 2018 Australian Open champion, has additionally been given wild playing cards to compete in subsequent week’s Cincinnati Open and the Aug. 28-Sept. 10 U.S. Open.
Additionally advancing to the second one spherical in Montreal have been Danielle Collins, a 6-2 6-2 winner over Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina, Tenth-seed Daria Kasatkina and Fifteenth-seed Liudmila Samsonova.