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For Caroline Wozniacki, returning to tennis felt “like riding a bike”

"We are back baby!" the former No. 1 gushed on social media, as well-wishes pour in from former rivals like Serena Williams and Agnieszka Radwanska after her opening win in Montreal.

ByBaseline Staff

Published Aug 09, 2023

WATCH: Caroline Wozniacki defeats Kimberly Birrell in the 2023 Montreal Open first round

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After a streak of rainy days, the returning Caroline Wozniacki lived up to her “Miss Sunshine” nickname in Montreal. In her first WTA match since retirement, the mother-of-two was all smiles as she charged past Kimberly Birrell 6-2, 6-2 on center court at Omnium Banque Nationale.

Wozniacki racked up 71 weeks at world No. 1 during a glittering career that saw her lift 30 trophies, including the 2018 Australian Open. Her 2020 retirement came as no surprise, as injuries and chronic illness had taken their toll, but the mother-of-two’s 2023 comeback announcement in Vogue stunned everyone.

“Three years, eight months, two kids later! We are back baby!! Feels good to get the W today!” she shared on Instagram.

The well wishes quickly flooded into the comments, with former rival and good friend Agnieszka Radwanska sending a series of applause emojis with a fire emoji, and Serena Williams, her best friend on the WTA Tour simply stating: “Love it.” Husband David Lee, a retired NBA star gushed, “So proud of you!!!!!”

Although she admitted to being “a little nervous” before taking the court, Wozniacki revealed that for her, playing tennis at an elite level again is just “like riding a bike.”

“You want to have a good start, and you want to perform well, but quickly you settle in,” she told press in Montreal. “It's like riding a bike basically. You never forget it once you're in there, but at the same time it is different.

“When you play the important points or when you see an opening, you get really excited, and then you may not hit it as clean… It was just nice to be out there playing, and it was nice competing again.”

While Wozniacki is having little trouble adjusting back to WTA tennis, she’s about to get reacquainted with the sport’s relentless daily schedule: She will be back in action against No. 9 seed Marketa Vondrousova, the reigning Wimbledon champion, on Wednesday.