Caroline Wozniacki claimed the biggest win of her comeback and a spot in the third round of the U.S. Open on Wednesday as the Dane’s Grand Slam adventure continued with an 7-5 7-6(5) upset of 11th seed Petra Kvitova.
Having retired in 2020 to raise a family and playing in just her third event since returning to action Wozniacki turned back the clock to come out on top in the battle of 33-year-old Grand Slam champions.
Caroline Wozniacki has them on their feet!
She's up a break in the second on Petra Kvitova. pic.twitter.com/c0wkzbDvH7
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2023
“I’ve been feeling very comfortable here in New York in general,” said Wozniacki. “Ever since I arrived here, it’s just something about the courts, everything else, that have made me feel good.
“I’m just so thrilled to have an opportunity to play out on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“Three years ago if you’d asked me, I didn’t think I was ever going to play on one of those courts again in the U.S. Open, especially a night session.
“It just feels pretty incredible to be out there and winning a match like that.”
CAROLINE ON THE COMEBACK!
She's into Round 2 of the #USOpen in her return to tennis. pic.twitter.com/ivwFEijYTs
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2023
The last time Wozniacki beat a top 20 ranked opponent was at the 2018 WTA Finals when she took down then world number five Kvitova.
Five years later, their 15th meeting ended with the same outcome.