Washington: Former world No. 1 and 2018 Australian Open winner Caroline Wozniacki made a triumphant comeback at the Charleston Open, defeating lucky loser McCartney Kessler of America 6-0, 6-1 in just 61 minutes.
It was Wozniacki’s first win on clay courts since her most recent appearance in Charleston in 2019, when she reached the third of her three finals so far.
Wozniacki, who was runner-up in her most recent appearance in the Lowcountry in 2019, took a break from tennis in early 2020 before returning to the sport in mid-2023.
In the second round, Wozniacki will now play No. 15 seed Angelina Kalinina, against whom she failed to edge out the Ukrainian from match point at the same stage in Miami, Kalinina’s fourth-longest win at tour-level 5-7, 7- Was successful in achieving 5, 6-4.
Meanwhile, Amanda Anisimova of the United States joined Wozniacki in the second round. In a match between former Charleston semi-finalists, Anisimova defeated France’s Alizé Cornet 6-3, 6-0 in 1 hour 25 minutes on Monday.
Anisimova will now face fellow American and No. 1 seed Jessica Pegula in the second round.
Later in the evening, 22-year-old American qualifier Katie Wolynets saved two match points before defeating 54th-ranked Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands 6-2, 6-7(6-8), 7-6(8-6).
It was the new longest WTA Tour match of the season with a duration of 3 hours and 43 minutes. The match lasted a minute longer than the previous longest match this year, when Beatriz Haddad Maia won in 3 hours and 42 minutes over Magda Linette in the second round in Abu Dhabi.
Volynets will now face compatriot Emma Navarro, who is seeded 10th, in the second round.
Domestic hope Shelby Rogers opened the night session with a decisive 6-1, 6-1 win over fellow American Claire Liu.
Other winners Monday included Magda Linett and Daria Saville in singles, while Madison Keys and Taylor Townsend won 6-1, 2-6, 10-7 over No. 3 seeds Miyu Kato and Aldila Sutjiadi in doubles.
