Caroline Wozniacki is back — and on fire at the US Open

NEW YORK — Caroline Wozniacki watched from the sidelines as her longtime friend Serena Williams had her electrifying farewell run at the 2022 US Open. While Williams dazzled the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium in her three singles matches, a pregnant and already retired Wozniacki was in the arena and at practice sessions, offering supportive words and cheers.

But while Wozniacki, the former world No. 1 and 2018 Australian Open champion, was happy to be there for Williams, it wasn’t what sparked her idea to return to the sport.

“[Her final US Open] was something very special,” Wozniacki said on Friday. “But I wasn’t really thinking about my own comeback at that point. I was trying to figure out how I’m going to handle two kids.”

Her own spark came later. After her son James was born in October, she began casually hitting balls with her dad. It was there, on the court near her house, when she realized she was hitting better than she believed she ever had — and enjoying it more than ever too. After more than three years away, she knew she wanted to come back.

Now, less than 11 months after James’ birth, and a year after Williams’ storied career came to a dramatic end, Wozniacki is officially back, feeling the love of the crowd at Ashe herself. On Friday, she came back to defeat American Jennifer Brady 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 in front of a passionate fan base to advance to the fourth round at the US Open. Williams, who gave birth to her second child just last week, watched from home.

The moment wasn’t lost on Wozniacki.

“You go out there and you believe in yourself, but to actually be here and playing in Arthur Ashe in front of all of the amazing people in here … I said this after the last match, but I didn’t think I was going to be here again,” Wozniacki said during her on-court interview on Friday as those in the stands showered her with an ovation. “When I retired three years ago, when I had my two kids, I thought I would be only watching from the outside, but to be able to play here and now I’ve won two matches in here, what an honor this is.”

The 33-year-old Wozniacki made her return last month at the Canadian Open and recorded one win in two tournaments before arriving in New York. But during the US Open, she’s been on fire. A two-time finalist, Wozniacki defeated No. 11 seed and two-time major champion Petra Kvitova in the second round on Ashe on Wednesday and is…