Caroline Wozniacki won her first Grand Slam match in more than three years on Monday, defeating Russian qualifier Tatiana Prozorova 6-3, 6-2 at the US Open.
Denmark’s former world number one returned to tennis earlier this month after retiring following the 2020 Australian Open to create a family and give birth to two children.
Wozniacki broke her 227th-ranked opponent three times in the first set, who was making her Grand Slam main draw debut and only her third tour-level event.
Prozorova required treatment for a leg injury between sets before Wozniacki, the US Open runner-up in 2009 and 2014, wrapped up victory and set up a meeting with another former Grand Slam champion, Petra Kvitova.
“It feels amazing to be back,” said the 33-year-old Wozniacki, who was handed a wild card entry for the tournament.
“Obviously I was very nervous to be out here having not been out here since 2019.”
“It’s amazing to get another chance. To get a win under my belt, it feels so special,” she added.
“I love playing out here. It’s just so electric, there’s such a buzz coming out here in New York to play.”