Sweet Caroline rolls back the years

The former world No.1 finishes with 22 winners to just 12 unforced errors, to seal a win over 11th seed Petra Kvitova

- Aditya Chaturvedi

It seemed like she had never been away. Caroline Wozniacki was always one of the brightest lights on tour and now, in a most unexpected way, she is lighting it up again.

It was after the 2020 Australian Open that Wozniacki stepped away from the sport and went on to give birth twice. The Dane was 29 years old at the time and a former world No.1, with one Grand Slam title (Aus Open 2018) to her name. But after years away from the court, she has wasted little time in showing she still has plenty left in the tank.

At the 2023 US Open, there were 10 mothers – Wozniacki, Victoria Azarenka, Elina Svitolina, Tatjana Maria, Taylor Townsend, Yanina Wickmayer, Vera Zvonareva, Barbora Strycova, Patricia Maria Tig and Margarita Betova – who entered the women’s singles main draw. Of these players, four lost in the first round while Wozniacki and Townsend were the ones who booked their spot in the third round by the end of Day 3.