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Wozniacki Downs Prozorova to Make Winning Return at US Open 

Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark reacts during her first round match against Tatiana Prozorova of Russia at the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, US, 28 August 2023. (EPA)
Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark reacts during her first round match against Tatiana Prozorova of Russia at the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, US, 28 August 2023. (EPA)
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Wozniacki Downs Prozorova to Make Winning Return at US Open 

Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark reacts during her first round match against Tatiana Prozorova of Russia at the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, US, 28 August 2023. (EPA)
Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark reacts during her first round match against Tatiana Prozorova of Russia at the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, US, 28 August 2023. (EPA)

Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki marked her return to Grand Slam action for the first time in more than three years with a 6-3 6-2 win over Russian qualifier Tatiana Prozorova on Monday to reach the second round at the US Open.

Wozniacki is competing in her third tournament since returning to the tour in Montreal and playing in Cincinnati this month after retiring in 2020 to start a family, but the Dane's vast experience shone through against 19-year-old Prozorova.

"It feels amazing to be back," said Wozniacki, who booked a place in the next round against Czech 11th seed Petra Kvitova.

"Obviously I was very nervous coming out here, I haven't been here since 2019 and a lot has happened since then.

"It just feels amazing to have the chance out here on this big court, playing a night session and getting a win under my belt. It feels so special."

Both players surrendered serve early in the match before the 33-year-old Wozniacki stepped up the pressure from 3-3, breaking her opponent twice more on the back of some relentless returns to win the opening set.

Wozniacki shifted up another gear following a delayed start to the next set due to Prozorova's medical timeout, as the Dane sealed a crucial point after a 30-shot rally en route to grabbing a 3-1 lead.

The former Australian Open champion wobbled on serve at 5-1 but broke Prozorova immediately afterwards to close out the win.

"Obviously it only gets tougher from here. I'm playing Petra next, someone I know very well and have played many, many times. I kind of know what to expect," Wozniacki said.

"I've got to play better next match to beat her, but so does she. I think it's going to be an exciting one. It's going to be a good match out there."

Kvitova has won eight of their 14 previous meetings.

"Could I have had maybe a little bit of an easier draw? Probably. But at the same time, I'm also a wildcard. We could have met in the first round," Wozniacki said.

"At the same time, I'm just out there to compete. I know myself, my competitiveness. I know if I'm playing my best tennis, I believe that I can beat anyone in the draw.

"It could be anything out there in the next match, but I hope it's going to be a great match. That's why I'm here. I want to compete. I want to play against the best players."

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Kaylia Nemour of Algeria Wins Gold in Uneven Bars, Suni Lee Takes Bronze

Algeria's Kaylia Nemour celebrates after winning the artistic gymnastics women's uneven bars final during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Bercy Arena in Paris, on August 4, 2024. (AFP)
Algeria's Kaylia Nemour celebrates after winning the artistic gymnastics women's uneven bars final during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Bercy Arena in Paris, on August 4, 2024. (AFP)
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Kaylia Nemour of Algeria Wins Gold in Uneven Bars, Suni Lee Takes Bronze

Algeria's Kaylia Nemour celebrates after winning the artistic gymnastics women's uneven bars final during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Bercy Arena in Paris, on August 4, 2024. (AFP)
Algeria's Kaylia Nemour celebrates after winning the artistic gymnastics women's uneven bars final during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Bercy Arena in Paris, on August 4, 2024. (AFP)

Kaylia Nemour of Algeria delivered the country’s first gold medal in gymnastics, putting together a thrilling routine in the uneven bars final on Sunday to edge Qiu Qiyuan of China.

Sunisa Lee of the US picked up her third medal in Paris and sixth of her Olympic career by grabbing bronze, exactly where she finished in Tokyo three years ago.

Nemour is French and still trains in France but switched to compete for Algeria following a dispute with the French gymnastics federation and Nemour’s club of Avoine Beaumont, which has led the gymnast to embrace her father’s Algerian nationality.

The 17-year-old is a wonder on bars, swooping from one to the other with a series of releases and intricate hand maneuvers that are both athletically and technically demanding.

Nemour needed to rely on all those skills to edge Qiu, who put on a clinic during her set. Her legs were practically magnetized together during her routine and she was so straight on her handstand she looked like a ruler. Qiu hugged her coaches after her dismount and the crowd erupted when her 15.5 was posted.

Nemour scored 15.7, tied for the highest score of the meet in any event.

While Nemour competes under a different flag — she draped the Algerian banner behind her after clinching her victory — she was very much on home soil. A raucous ovation followed after she won the first-ever gymnastics medal for Algeria.

Lee has spent much of the last 15 months dealing with multiple kidney diseases that have limited her training. She didn’t really get serious about Paris until December. And seven months later she’s already picked up three medals after helping the Simone Biles-led US women claim team gold last Tuesday. Lee followed it up two days later with a bronze in the all-around behind Biles and Rebeca Andrade of Brazil.

Lee’s six medals leave her one behind Shannon Miller for the second most by an American gymnast. Lee could match Miller in the balance beam final on Sunday.

Liu grabs gold again Liu Yang of China defended his Olympic gymnastics title on still rings, posting a score of 15.300 to edge teammate Zou Jingyuan in the finals.

The 29-year-old Liu is the third man to win multiple Olympic titles in an event that requires strength and impeccable body control, joining Albert Azaryan of Russia and Akinori Nakayama of Japan.

Eleftherios Petrounias of Greece earned the bronze. Petrounias has won a medal on rings in three straight Games. He was the champion in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro and a bronze medalist in Tokyo three years ago.

The difference between Liu's 15.300 and Zou's 15.233 came on the dismount. Zou hopped a couple of times after hitting the mat while Liu's bounce was considerably smaller.

Samir Ait Said of France finished fourth, eight years after memorably breaking his left leg on vault in Rio. Said, who already has committed to trying to make it to Los Angeles 2028, roared after his dismount in front of a highly partisan crowd inside Bercy Arena. The crowd met Said's score of 15.000 with whistles of displeasure.