Former World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki returns after over three years away with straight sets win over Birrell at Canadian Open

Tuesday, 08 August 2023 at 20:12

Albeit not with the crowd size to match, there was much fanfare for Caroline Wozniacki's return to action after over three years away and she delivered on that in her Canadian Open (National Bank Open) return in Montreal.

Seeing off Kimberly Birrell 6-2, 6-2, the former World No.1 did not look like a player who had been off the court since the turn of 2020 barring a Legends appearance at Roland Garros and Wimbledon this season.

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She won't find out her opponent for the second round until later this evening with Marketa Vondrousova, the current Wimbledon champion the potential opponent.

She faces Mayar Sherif shortly before an evening session which features Victoria Azarenka, Bianca Andreescu and Elena Rybakina.

But it was all about Wozniacki to start the evening. She showed incredible movement and court awareness and like she had never left.

After an early exchange of breaks in which Wozniacki struggled to hold serve with double faults, it was Birrell who herself struggled not being able to hold serve all set.

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In particular losing it twice in a row including for the set to love as Wozniacki picked her way through the Aussie's resolve.

The second set was a lot more even with multiple break point chances on both serves being spurned. But Wozniacki took a 4-2 lead and broke again to seal the win in just under an hour and 40 minutes.

Looking to emulate Serena Williams, Kim Clijsters and Victoria Azarenka in her comeback, she has began well in doing so with the interesting test of course coming against better opposition.

Which could yet be Marketa Vondrousova ironically in her first match since winning Wimbledon in early July. But the former Australian Open champion is up and running and looked good in doing so.

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Don’t call it a comeback, been here for years 💅 3.5 years later, @CaroWozniacki makes a triumphant return to the WTA Tour, defeating Birrell 6-2, 6-2 in Montreal! #NBO23

6:20 PM · Aug 8, 2023

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