US Open: Wozniacki continues fairytale comeback as Tsitsipas suffers shock defeat

Caroline Wozniacki secured the biggest win of her comeback on Wednesday night as the former world No 1 defeated 11th seed Petra Kvitova 7-5, 7-6 to reach the third round of the US Open.

Twice a finalist in New York City, Wozniacki retired from tennis in 2020 to raise a family and made her return to the tour earlier this month. In just the third tournament of her comeback, the Dane offered plenty of reminders of the talent that took her to an Australian Open title, turning back the clock to come out on top in the battle of 33-year-old Grand Slam champions.

"I've been feeling very comfortable here in New York in general," Wozniacki said. "Ever since I arrived here, it's just something about the courts, everything else, that have made me feel good.

"I'm just so thrilled to have an opportunity to play out on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

"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."

The last time Wozniacki beat a top 20 ranked opponent was at the 2018 WTA Finals when she took down then world No 5 Kvitova. Five years later, their 15th meeting ended with the same outcome.

The match did not start well for Wozniacki as Kvitova broke her to open the contest, but the Dane hit back immediately with a break of her own and then clinched the first set with another break.

Kvitova was never going to outwork the Dane, who endeared herself to New Yorkers by returning to the city to run the marathon, but the Czech had other weapons including a willingness to go for the big shot.

Wozniacki showed that she still possesses some firepower and used it to blast back-to-back