Former Roland Garros finalist Sara Errani came back from one set down to beat Caroline Wozniaki 3-6 7-5 7-5 in 2 hours and 48 minutes in the first round of the Madrid Mutua Open.
Wozniacki reached the Madrid final in its inaugural edition in 2019. Errani advanced to the semifinal at the Spanish tournament in 2021.
Errani set up a second round match against Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia. The Italian player leads 3-1 in her four head-to-head matches against her Brazilian opponent.
Errani, who is now ranked world number 100, reached her first semifinal since 2017 in Bogotà last April. She won three matches before losing to eventual champion Camila Osorio. Errani came through the qualifying round in Stuttgart and Madrid.
Wozniacki broke twice in the the third and fifth games to take a 4-1 lead. Errani pulled one break back in the sixth game for 2-4 in the sixth game. Wozniacki earned her third break to take a 5-2 lead. Errani broke back in the eighth game for 3-5. Wozniacki closed out the first set 6-3 with her fourth break.
Errani broke serve in the ninth game to take a 5-4 lead. The 2012 Roland Garros finalist missed out on three set consecutive points at 5-4 and was broken from 40-0 up. Errani converted her fourth set point at 6-5 to send the match to the decider.
Both players traded breaks en route to 5-5, but Errani hit a backhand to earn her fourth break of the set to take a 6-5 lead. Errani served out the win on her second match point to clinch the second win in her sixth career head-to-head match against Wozniacki.
