Caroline Wozniacki not getting ahead of herself after comeback win
Former world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki was delighted to win her comeback match on the WTA Tour on Tuesday.
Wozniacki got the better of Australian qualifier Kimberly Birrell 6-2, 6-2 in a clinical win in Montreal.
She showed little signs of rust as she swept to victory which will delight her fans no end.
Wozniacki did admit that she was a little bit drained after the encounter.
“I’m happy,” Wozniacki said, after her win. “A little tired. Just it was fun to be out there again playing on center court in front of a big crowd. I’m just thrilled that I could win my first match in three and a half years.”
Wozniacki will face the most recent Grand Slam champion, Marketa Vondrousova in her next match and she realises this will represent a big step up.
“Marketa has obviously been on fire,” Wozniacki said. “Played incredibly well at Wimbledon. Got out of some tough situations there along the way, but then really kept her nerves cool in the finals.
“Obviously a tough opponent, a lefty. That’s never easy to play a lefty with the ball going the other way. But, you know what, I have nothing to lose. I’m going to go out there and have fun regardless and see what happens.”
While pundits have been quick to predict that Wozniacki will make waves on her return, she isn’t setting any expectations in terms of results.
“I’m just excited to be back and competing, and I think for me it’s so special having my family here,” Wozniacki said. “As a 33-year-old that has played on tour for many years, and doing it with my kids that now, especially the older one is starting to really understand and gets to really experience the world and different countries, I think it’s so cool.”
Wozniacki was focused on the mental aspects of the gam which can overwhelm a player who has been away from the proverbial coal-face.
“I didn’t really know what to expect, to be honest,” Wozniacki said. “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.
“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. I think everything taken into consideration, I’m very happy with how I played today and how I got through.”
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