By Joe McDonald

NEW YORK—It hasn’t been an easy season for Caroline Wozniacki.

A right ankle injury knocked her out of clay-court season, she fell in the Wimbledon first round to Svetlana Kuznetsova—her second straight major first-round exit— and dropped out of Top 50 in the world for the first time since she was a teenager at the 2008 Australian Open.

US Open: Kvitova Seeking Calm Amid New York City Swirl

Clearly, the former No. 1 could use a break.

And today, one came.

Besides christening the new Grandstand Stadium with a tight 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, over American Taylor Townsend, Wozniacki is finally back on the winning track.

“I thought it was really difficult with her lefty spin serves,” Wozniacki said. “I would like to think I was one of the better returners. Today, that did not show and that was frustrating.”

What a difference a year makes. A year ago, Wozniacki contested the US Open as the No. 4 seed. Today, she took the court ranked No. 74 and desperately need a win after stumbling to a 5-7 record since Miami in March.

The 146th-ranked Townsend, who played through qualifying to reach the main draw, had a game point to go up 5-4 in the decider, but Wozniacki bolted a backhand pass down the line and broke serve with another pass.

"Winning three quallies matches obviously it's great, but to win a main-draw match against someone like that, she's been No. 1 in the world so she knows what it takes to win matches," Townsend said. "But, you know, I could taste it. It was so close.

"Like I said, I just want to continue to build on it, really. It really was a great match. I can't beat myself too much, but just going to keep building and keep working."

There was an adjustment period for both women playing on the new Grandstand.

Sure it’s gorgeous for the fans, but the players will need to get used to it. And since this court is replacing one of Wozniacki's favorite courts, well that’s kind of tough too.

“I used to love the old Grandstand, so when I heard they were tearing it down,” she said, “it was not going to be a match court anymore, I was sad, because it was one of my favorite courts. The intimacy of the court and the people were so close it was such a great atmosphere.”

After lighting a candle for the old stadium, Wozniacki had some work to do, especially working with a new facility.

“I walked in today and I thought it was cool,” she said. “The crowd was nice and I mean I think it’s a big upgrade. It’s a beautiful court. I loved it.”

Winning helps too and that’s what the 26 year-old Dane hopes to do this Open. Today, she lives to play another day.

Besides trying to get back on track, she also is in the midst of another coaching change too. In April she started working with Czech coach David Kotyza, who formerly coached two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova. That partnership ended before the Open so that Kotyza could spend more time with his family.

So Wozniacki is back with her father, Piotr, as coach, resuming a familiar partnership.

And maybe that familiarity will bring some success, as does playing in Flushing Meadows, where Wozniacki was a finalist in 2009 and 2014.

In fact, she loves New York so much; she owns a home in Manhattan and completed the New York City Marathon two years ago.

“I always felt at home here,” Wozniacki said. “I love this event and it feels so good to be able to stay at home, cook and chill at nights. I was really happy they were cheering for me at this point.”

They still love here and if she gets her game back, they will love her even more.

Photo credit: Billie Weiss/Connecticut Open