Former world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki made a triumphant comeback in her return to competition after a layoff since January 2020 on Tuesday at the WTA Montreal Open.

The 33-year-old Danish star defeated 115th-ranked Kimberly Birrell of Australia 6-2, 6-2 in her opener at the hardcourt event, a tuneup for the US Open, which starts on 28 August in New York.

Wozniacki, the 2018 Australian Open champion, retired after a third-round loss at the 2020 Australian Open.

She gave birth to two children and became a television commentator but announced a comeback two months ago with plans to compete at the US Open.