By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, August 8, 2023
Playing her first match in three-and-a-half years, Caroline Wozniacki swept qualifier Kimberly Birrell 6-2, 6-2 to charge into the Montreal second round.
Photo credit: Minas Panagiotakis/Getty
A cluster of clouds loomed over her shoulder as the woman nicknamed Sunshine saw the last light.
Stepping into the court, Caroline Wozniacki zapped a backhand winner down the line closing a comeback win with her signature shot and satisfied smile.
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Playing her first match in three-and-a-half years, Wozniacki swept qualifier Kimberly Birrell 6-2, 6-2 to charge into the Montreal second round.
After surrendering serve in the opening game, Wozniacki reeled off 12 of the final 15 games in a winning return ahead of her US Open comeback later this month.
"It feels great. It's been my first match back in over three years, I'm definitely a little rusty," Wozniacki said in her on-court interview. "But what an amazing place to come back and play my first match.
"I love playing here in Montreal I have amazing memories here. The fans are always the best so thank you for coming out and supporting me today."
It was Wozniacki's first match since she fell to Ons Jabeur in the 2020 Australian Open 1,294 days ago and her first tournament appearance since giving birth to her second child, son James Wozniacki Lee, 289 days ago.
Wild card Wozniacki will face either Wimbledon winner Marketa Vondrousova or Mayar Sherif in round two.
"I didn't really know what to expect, to be honest," Wozniacki told the media in Montreal. "You have all these things in your head that this is how you're supposed to be playing and you're supposed to be doing this and that, but to be honest, I had no idea what I was going to come up with when I was out on court because I just haven't played a real match in so long.
"For me it was all about not getting down on myself if I made a mistake and not get too excited when I hit a good shot. So it was just kind of evening out those emotions. You know, I think everything taken into consideration, I'm very happy with how I played today and how I got through. It's not easy to win a match, and it's definitely not easy when you haven't played one in so long."
The 2018 Australian Open champion has become a major multi-tasker as mom to two kids. Wozniacki said timing was the key to this comeback win: the schedule coincided with her children's nap time.
"That's pretty crazy," Wozniacki said of her first win as a mom. "I was just looking at the clock, actually, my kids are napping right now, which is awesome.
"So I'm gonna still catch them after I do a little bit of treatment. So that's the great part of playing early—I still have the afternoon with them."
Serenaded by the Neil Diamond classic "Sweet Caroline" as she walked on stadium court to applause from fans, including husband David Lee and her parents, Wozniacki showed learning curve after time off tour when she learned from the chair umpire the pre-match warm-up was four minutes not five minutes anymore.
Looking eager and energized, Wozniacki played her return match much as you may remember her style prior to departure.
The 33-year-old Wozniacki moved smoothly, struck cleanly, showed some nice feel picking up half-volleys near net and her her two-hander with precision and creativity.
Most importantly, Wozniacki, who was wearing strapping around her calf while partnering Cara Black in a Legends doubles defeat to Martina Hingis and Kim Clijsters hours before Carlos Alcaraz dethroned Novak Djokovic on Wimbledon's final Sunday, looked healthy.
Good news: Wozniacki's fast feet, fitness, bold two-handed backhand and grinding voracity were all on display. Given this was her first match in three-and-a-half years, Wozniacki had the ideal opponent in Birrell, who won't blow you off the court with power and allowed the former world No. 1 to play longer rallies and establish rhythm. Wozniacki converted six of 12 break points and exploited 10 double faults from her Aussie opponent—two-and-a-half games of double faults.
The challenge for Wozniacki will be solidifying the second serve and showing what she can truly do defending her deep forehand corner. When you push Wozniacki into her forehand corner, she tends to predictably play the high-percentage crosscourt reply.
Against heavier hitters, Wozniacki will need to show she can sometimes change direction on her weaker wing and drive the forehand down the line in order to open the court. That said, Wozniacki hit an astounding short-angle running forehand pass she punctuated with a clenched fist to help her hold for a 3-2 second-set lead.
Still, considering her long layoff, you have to respect the 2010 tournament champion's level of play. Her opponent certainly did.
"I think considering everything, she did really well. I think credit to her," Birrell told the media in Montreal. "She maybe didn't have the best start, but I don't think I did as well. So, yeah, it was pretty windy, and the conditions were kind of tough, too. There was a lot going on with the crowd. It was quite noisy.
"I think it did take a little while for both of us to settle in, but I think, considering, she played really well, and she played the brand of tennis that I think she's known for.
"She ran a lot of balls down, and she seems extremely fit. Yeah, she played well."
Sunlight tested the woman nicknamed Sunshine in the opening game.
Squinting into the high afternoon sun on serve, Wozniacki hit a couple of double faults, saved a pair of break points then tripped a backhand off the tape to cede the break in the opening game.
Wielding the same Babolat racquet she used in her prime playing days, Wozniacki curled a forehand to break back.
Key components from the classic Wozniacki style—flowing court coverage, running around the forehand to crack her two-handed backhand and those sharp-angled crosscour drives—were all on display as the Dane built a 3-1 lead.
Birrell broke back in the fifth game to get back on serve after 29 minutes of play.
Expected rust was evident: Wozniacki clanked four double faults in her first three service games.
The double fault issue infected Birrell, whose third double faulted gifted back the break in the sixth game.
Though her second serve frequently splashed shallow in the service box, Wozniacki held firm at 30 for 5-2.
The Aussie qualifier could not corral her straying serve: Birrell dumped three double faults in a horrific game handing Wozniacki the love break and opening set after 43 minutes of play.
Baseline exchanges escalated in the second set with Wozniacki finding the finishing shot.
Wozniacki ran through the final four games to score her first Tour-level win since she defeated Kristie Ahn at the 2020 Australian Open.