Marketa Vondrousova fought hard to overcome Caroline Wozniacki by 6-2, 7-5 and advance to the third round of the National Bank Open in Montreal.
The recent Wimbledon champion, Marketa Vondrousova, continues to showcase her prowess in Toronto. In the opening round, she defeated Mayar Sheriff with ease, posting a score of 6-4, 6-2.
Her most recent tournament on hardcourt before the Canadian Open was the Miami Open in March, where she entered the competition outside the top 100 and reached the quarterfinals.
This time around, she faced the former world No. 1, Caroline Wozniacki. The Danish player made her return to the WTA Tour after more than three years of absence and is currently a mother of two.
In her first-round match, she secured an impressive victory of 6-2, 6-2 against the world No. 115, Kimberly Birrell, displaying a high level of competitiveness despite her time away from professional tennis. However, this time the challenge was to face the most recent Grand Slam champion.
The development of the first set was influenced by the effectiveness of each player's service game. Vondrousova had a first serve percentage of only 48%, but won 87% of points on her first serve and only 44% on her second serve.
Wozniacki had a higher first serve percentage (67%), but couldn't match the Czech's dominance, winning 61% of points with her first serve and 44% with her second serve.
The reigning Wimbledon champion excelled in crucial moments, converting two of five break points in her favor, while also saving three opportunities for her opponent. This allowed Vondrousova to secure a 6-2 lead at the break.
The second set began with a clear advantage for Vondrousova, who achieved two consecutive breaks and took a 3-0 lead with her serve. However, Wozniacki remained focused and managed to secure four consecutive games, demonstrating her strong competitive spirit.
The seventh game witnessed an incredible battle between both players, with Wozniacki facing three double faults and saving four break points. A total of eight deuces were played before she clinched her fourth consecutive game with a powerful ace.
At 5-5, Vondrousova secured the decisive break that granted her the advantage, ultimately winning the match 6-2, 7-5. This marked a more than respectable performance by Wozniacki in her first tournament after three years.
"Sweet Caroline" will return to the court next week at the Cincinnati Open, where she received a wildcard entry.
Vondrousova's next challenge lies in the third round, where she will face the American and world No. 7, Coco Gauff. Gauff comes into the match in excellent form, having easily defeated Katie Boulter (a qualifier) and recently secured the title at the WTA 500 DC Open last week.
Marketa Vondrousova d. Caroline Wozniacki 6-2 7-5 in Montreal Marketa just doesn’t lose these days. ✅9 match win streak This match was such a joy to watch. Marketa doesn’t always get the recognition, but make no mistake… she has the talent in truckloads. 🇨🇿❤️
