Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark won her first match in more than three years as she returned to competition on Tuesday at the WTA Montreal Open, a tune-up for the U.S. Open, which takes place in New York from August 28. 

Wozniacki, a mother of two at the age of 33, defeated 115th-ranked Australian qualifier Kimberly Birrell 6-2, 6-2. She announced her return in June after retiring in 2020 to start a family.

"It's like riding a bike basically. You never forget it once you're in there, but at the same time it's different," Wozniacki said after the match. 

"When you play the important points or see an opening, you get really excited, and then you may not hit it as clean, and you're like, 'Ah, I have to start from scratch in the rally.'"

"I'm just excited to be back and competing, and it's special having my family here," she added.

"Coming back 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, it's so cool."

Wozniacki will next play against this year's Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova from the Czech Republic and expects a tough challenge.

"Marketa has been on fire," Wozniacki said. "She played incredibly well at Wimbledon. Got out of some tough situations along the way but really kept her nerves cool in the finals.

"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."

(With input from Reuters)