Caroline Wozniacki suddenly has the chance to achieve her best result at a Grand Slam tournament since winning the Australian Open title – the only major victory of her career – in 2018.

The former world No. 1 player advanced to the fourth round of the US Open for the second consecutive year with a 6-3, 6-2 win over French qualifier Jessika Ponchet on the Grandstand Court on Saturday – after returning to the sport in 2023 following a three-year break to start a family.

The 34-year-old Wozniacki will face number 22 Beatriz Haddad Maia and fight for a place in the quarterfinals.

“I’m obviously very happy that we’re going into the second week,” said Wozniacki afterwards. “It’s always nice. I love playing here. Every time I get to play a match here, I’m very happy about it.”

“I’m so happy to have made it to the next round. It was difficult today because I didn’t really know my opponent. I’ve never faced her before. She played a little bit unorthodox tennis compared to other players. It was really difficult to read her game, so I’m just really happy to be through.”

Wozniacki – a two-time Open finalist, although not since 2014 – retired from the sport in 2020 and had two children with her husband, former Knicks striker David Lee, during her time off.

The Danish-born woman returned to tennis in June last year and wowed the crowd at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center as a wildcard player before losing in the fourth round to eventual winner Coco Gauff.

Wozniacki was eliminated in the third round at Wimbledon earlier this summer, but she won her first two matches earlier this week in straight sets against Nao Hibino and Renata Zarazua.

“If my body holds up and everything goes in the right direction, I believe I can go very far,” Wozniacki said. “How far? We’ll see. But of course I’ve always believed in myself. This is one of the times I’m playing a tournament where I feel very comfortable. The surface is very good for me. So I’m optimistic.”

Wozniacki had to undergo treatment for back and arm problems earlier in the tournament, but she believes her mindset and game came together at the right time.

“I think for me, obviously, it’s very different at this stage than it was back then,” she said. “I think I’m really trying to get in top form for the Grand Slams now. Back then, I was fresh and ready to play every single tournament. Now, I use every tournament I play for the Grand Slams and that’s my main goal.”
“That’s pretty much my mindset. I think the most realistic thing I can do now is just think about the Grand Slam tournaments and how I can play best in those moments.”