Caroline Wozniacki’s return to red clay after retirement hit a roadblock at the 2024 Mutua Madrid Open. The former world No. 1 fell to Sara Errani in a grueling three-set battle, 3-6, 7-5, 7-5.
Wozniacki, who retired in 2020, made her comeback last summer with the Olympic Games in mind. However, her hopes of a medal on her least preferred surface suffered a setback against Errani, a former Roland Garros finalist.
Despite winning the first set, Wozniacki struggled to close out the match. She squandered a break point in the eighth game of the second set, allowing Errani to break back and eventually level the match.
In the decider, Errani maintained the pressure, breaking Wozniacki’s serve early on. Wozniacki fought back to level the set at 4-4, but Errani’s relentless return game proved too much. The Italian clinched the victory on her second match point, after attempting an underarm serve on her first.
Wozniacki’s defeat highlights her struggles in closing matches this season. Half of her losses have come after winning the first set, including at the Australian Open and Miami Open.
Despite her setback, Wozniacki has enjoyed success at the Caja Magica in the past, reaching the final in 2009 and the quarterfinals in 2015. She will now turn her attention to the grass-court season, where she has had more success.
Errani, meanwhile, advances to the second round, where she will face No. 11 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia.
