Wozniacki makes an impressive comeback

Wozniacki admits he didn't expect to win his first game back on the WTA Tour. She thanked her family, especially her two children, for cheering from the stands. The Danish tennis player took a three-year, eight-month break, giving birth to two children, before announcing her return last month.

The Rogers Cup is the event Wozniacki participated in to kick off the US Open - where she was a finalist twice in 2009 and 2014. The last tournament Wozniacki attended was the Australian Open 2020, 1,293 days ago. Wozniacki will face Wimbledon 2023 champion Marketa Vondrousova in the second round.

"I'm very happy and a bit tired," Wozniacki said after passing Birrell on the afternoon of August 8. "I'm happy to be playing in front of a crowd again. At 33, it's fun to tour with my kids. They'll get to experience what I've had in previous years. Playing in different countries is really fun. Great".

Wozniacki still retains the same figure and flexibility as before the break. She proved to be agile when fighting the series of doubles at the end of the field with Birrell - the opponent ranked 115 in the world. Wozniacki fared well ahead of his opponents in serving, with a 59% first-serve scoring rate, saving six of eight break-points.

The 2018 Australian Open champion said he was still training during the break. She recently felt good in fitness and ball feeling, so she decided to return to the WTA Tour. Wozniacki won the 2010 Rogers Cup and entered this year's tournament thanks to a wild card.

Wozniacki's goal this year is to get back to the professional playing field, try it out at the US Open, before aiming for the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Wozniacki said she doesn't plan to play for how long. The 30-time WTA winner joked that he could play for a few years, until his kids needed a ride to school.

"I'm hungry to win another Grand Slam," Wozniacki said of the goal for this comeback. "I'm still as nervous as before. I think I have a chance to win the US Open and the Australian Open, where I used to play well in the past."

Women's tennis has seen Kim Clijsters twice announce his retirement in 2007 and 2012, but then reappeared and won three more Grand Slams.