Caroline Wozniacki stuns Petra Kvitova as comeback continues at US Open - ESPN

NEW YORK — When Caroline Wozniacki finished off the biggest victory of her still-fresh comeback following 3½ years away from tennis, she sat in her US Open sideline chair, leaned forward and covered her face with both hands. Then she leaned back, glanced over at her husband and her father in the stands and smiled.

Two gold chains dangled from her neck, each carrying a name written in cursive: Olivia, for her 2-year-old daughter, and James, for her 10-month-old son.

Wozniacki clearly made the right choice to come out of retirement and try her hand at this tennis thing again, making it to the third round at Flushing Meadows by beating two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova 7-5, 7-6 (5) in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday night.

«This couldn't be better,» Wozniacki said. «It's a dream come true. If you had asked me three years ago, I would have said I'll never be back here, playing on this court.»

The 33-year-old from Denmark won the 2018 Australian Open and reached No. 1 in the rankings during her first stint on tour. Wozniacki left the sport in early 2020 to start a family with her husband, former NBA player David Lee, and later spent time working as a TV analyst.

Currently No. 623 in the world, she returned to competition this month and now is back at Flushing Meadows for the first time since 2019.

Wozniacki was the runner-up at the US Open in 2009, when she lost to Kim Clijsters in the title match, and 2014, when she lost to her good friend Serena Williams.

«I love New York. I love this court. I love everything about this city and playing here,» said Wozniacki, who said she planned to hang out with her kids on Thursday. «Absolutely, as soon as I came here over a week ago, I already — instantly — felt so comfortable