Victoria Azarenka had a couple scares on court but got the win she wanted at Wimbledon Monday afternoon. The former number one didn’t have a clean victory but showed her strengths while Ekaterina Alexandrova had moments of jitters that let the Belorussian win 7-6(4), 6-3 on Court 18 at the All England Tennis Club.
This was a first time meeting for the two but not a first time in the ladies draw for either one. The Russian made her third straight appearance getting as far as the second round two years ago. Facing Azarenka wouldn’t make it any easier as the Belorussian attempts to get into her comfort zone in what was her 12th year at the AEC coming back last year to end at the fourth round. With the ability to compete away from home on the tour, the former number one looked to get a grip on the year major of the year and find comfort quickly while the opportunity was there. She had two matches recorded on grass so far but more would need to occur if she wanted to get into some serious contention.
The match began with Azarenka breaking the Russian in the opening game followed by her own game being challenged as well. Alexandrova pushed the former number one again but managed to hold her chance for the AD point in the second game. A scary moment occurred during the first point where Azarenka slipped and extended her legs to the point of causing her pain. After a few minutes down on the grass, the 28 year old assessed her condition and chose to continue the match.
After Alexandrova won her service game, the trainer came out for Azarenka to evaluate her actual condition and whether she could continue playing. She received some tape to her right knee area during the medical timeout before going back to action. She delivered a strong service hold to level at two all before getting the lead on Alexandrova’s two double faults. She recovered playing a defensive stance against Azarenka who had trouble getting her serve to stay in at times. They went to deuce where after a few breaks, the 28 year old got the score widened to her advantage.
Alexandrova held in the seventh to get back in touch with Azarenka before errors by the Belorussian helped her break back to square up at four all. A third straight win by the 23 year old earned her the lead at 5-4 playing to try and go a set up. Azarenka shut her first attempt down holding two of three game points getting back in contention for it. She wasn’t the only one as Alexandrova held in the 11th to play for a second try at ending her opponent’s stride on the return side.
She did just that making it possible for a third time as the break forced the two players into a tiebreak that Azarenka was fine with. She opened to a 3-0 run on the 23 year old before she gained her first point. She picked up another two but it was the last she would get as Azarenka struck to take the next three serving for set point. One got away from the Belorussian but she still got the result she wanted getting a set up on Alexandrova after one hour and eight minutes. She served 68 percent with 67 percent of points won and 13 winners. Despite having four double faults and 13 unforced errors, her tenacious spirit and comfort in majors allowed her to conduct the result she earned.
She opened the second serving with a strong forehand that came up big on the return to take a 2-0 lead. Her first serve was showing a lot more balance giving her offense enough control to dominate the competition who struggled to keep the return game tight. The Russian put together a service hold that had help from Azarenka’s power shots that had a little more speed falling long of the baseline ending her three game winning streak.
She didn’t let the slip of her service bother her as she kept three games between herself and Alexandrova. She slowed the pace down in the sixth causing Alexandrova to err in the rallies handing the Belorussian some leverage. She regrouped to force deuce from 0-40 down and win on her second AD point attempt. While it frustrated Azarenka, she battled her issues and got the key win that put Alexandrova on the edge of defeat.
She held serve in the eighth but wasn’t out of trouble as she faced the Belorussian’s service game that she managed to do, holding back Alexandrova to come out of it in 1 hour and 49 minutes. While it was a struggling day for the former number one, she would face a former world number one in the second round in Karolina Pliskova on Wednesday.
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