Caroline Wozniacki, following her remarkable return from retirement, has stormed into the third round of the U.S. Open, defeating two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova with a score of 7-5, 7-6 (5).
It is abundantly clear that Wozniacki made the right decision to come out of retirement and revisit the world of tennis. Her remarkable journey brought her to the third round at Flushing Meadows, where she faced and defeated two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova with scores of 7-5, 7-6 (5) at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday night.
This couldn’t be better. It’s a dream come true. If you had asked me three years ago. I would have said I’ll never be back here, playing on this court.
The 33-year-old Danish tennis star, who once reached the pinnacle of tennis by winning the 2018 Australian Open and securing the No. 1 ranking (she’s currently ranked at No. 623), initially stepped away from the sport in early 2020 to start a family. She later spent time working as a TV analyst and is now the proud parent of two children, alongside her husband, former NBA player David Lee.
Wozniacki’s return to competitive tennis occurred this month, marking her first appearance at Flushing Meadows since 2019.
In the past, Wozniacki was the runner-up at the U.S. Open twice, in 2009 when she lost to Kim Clijsters in the title match, and in 2014 when she lost to her close friend Serena Williams.
I love New York. I love this court. I love everything about this city and playing here. Absolutely, as soon as I came here over a week ago, I already — instantly — felt so comfortable on these courts and knew that I could play some great tennis and I would be dangerous in the draw.
Up next, she will face Jennifer Brady, the 2020 U.S. Open semifinalist and 2021 Australian Open finalist, who recently returned to the tour after a two-year hiatus due to injuries.
This marks the third event in Wozniacki’s comeback, and she demonstrated her capability of delivering strong performances against the 11th-seeded Kvitova, marking their 15th career matchup. While there were moments of uncertainty, including Wozniacki’s inability to convert her first two match points at 5-4 in the second set, her game ultimately proved resilient enough to clinch the tiebreaker.
Match Stats: Caroline Wozniacki vs. Petra Kvitova
| Category | Caroline Wozniacki | Petra Kvitova |
| Aces | 3 | 8 |
| Double Faults | 2 | 5 |
| 1st Serve Percentage | 63% | 62% |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 70% | 70% |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 56% | 46% |
| Break Points Saved | 67% | 60% |
| 1st Serve Return Points Won | 30% | 30% |
| 2nd Serve Return Points Won | 60% | 50% |
| Winners | 21 | 29 |
| Unforced Errors | 19 | 32 |
| Total Points Won | 86 | 84 |
