US Open 2023: Caroline Wozniacki stuns Petra Kvitova in first top-20 win since comeback - ‘I believe in myself’
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Updated 31/08/2023 at 14:32 GMT
In what has become a wholesome journey for Caroline Wozniacki, the former No. 1 has secured the first top-20 win since she returned to the professional tennis circuit following almost four years away. The Dane downed 11th seed Petra Kvitova to reach the third round at the US Open in her first Grand Slam since her comeback. "I knew I had a chance to win, and I believe in myself,” Wozniacki said.
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Caroline Wozniacki beat Petra Kvitova 7-5 7-6(5) in the second round of the US Open to record the first top-20 win since her comeback.
In a close encounter between two Grand Slam champions, former world No. 1 Wozniacki edged past her Czech counterpart in straight sets to register only her third win since returning from a three-and-a-half-year break.
The Dane nervously squandered two match points against her old enemy, but Wozniacki used her mental strength to shrug off the disappointment and clinch the win in a tie-break.
"It feels amazing to beat such an amazing player and champion like Petra," Wozniacki said after her win. "Obviously I knew coming into the match that I had a chance to win, and I believe in myself.
“At the same time, she obviously has had a great year. She's No. 11 in the world, loves to play on hard courts. I knew it was going to be a very tough one and I had to play my best tennis.
“I’ve been feeling very comfortable here in New York in general. Ever since I arrived here, it’s just something about the courts, everything else, that have made me feel good.
“Three years ago if you’d asked me, I didn’t think I was ever going to play on one of those courts again in the US Open, especially a night session.
“It just feels pretty incredible to be out there and winning a match like that.”
Following the conclusion of the Australian Open in January 2020, Wozniacki spent three years and seven months away from the professional tennis circuit to start a family and recently admitted she had no plans to return.
She marked her comeback at the Canadian Open in August, where she beat Kimberly Birrell but lost in the next round to Marketa Vondrousova.
Next, she competed in the Cincinnati Masters but lost out in the first round to French player Varvara Gracheva.
She claimed only her second win back against Tatiana Prozorova on Tuesday in her Grand Slam return, before triumphing against Kvitova.
It was not only the first top-20 win since her comeback, but the first time she has won two consecutive matches.
Wozniacki reached the US Open final in 2009, where she lost to Kim Clijsters, and repeated the feat against Serena Williams in 2014.
The 2018 Australian Open winner will come up against American Jennifer Brady in the third round.
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