Embed from Getty Images
Victoria Azarenka continued to be on fire at the US Open Thursday night. The former world number one played like it against fellow Belorussian and fifth seeded Aryna Sabalenka 6-1, 6-3 on Louis Armstrong Stadium. It became the eighth match in a row that Azarenka has won clinching her 11th US Open appearance into the third round.
The two Byelorussians played at the US Open last year in what was a long three setter with Azarenka being victorious. With a second meeting back in the same place, the former world number one would look to accel to an eight-match winning streak and move deeper in the tournament. Sabalenka had a challenge against Oceane Dodin but managed a straight sets result. Playing against her fellow doubles partner, the fifth seed would try to stop her compatriot and move closer to competing through the first week.
The fight was on when Azarenka overcame a 0-40 deficit and forced deuce in the first. She saved Sabalenka from holding serve on the break chance, watching her compatriot secure the break. Azarenka consolidated it with a hold and surprisingly dictated the next two. Of the last 22 points, the former world number one captured 19 as numerous unforced errors rattled Sabalenka. The fifth seed overcame the issues smashing with the forehand to get on the board.
Despite her efforts to avoid a shutout, Azarenka went on to hold serve and break apart her opponent that brought a quick close to the set in 27 minutes. Sabalenka left the court to try and regroup as she had a second serve under 15 percent committing 17 unforced errors and only had three winners to her name. The 31-year-old was in a perfect spot to continue her dominance and try to pull off another upset.
Sabalenka was aggressive playing against Azarenka forcing the 31-year-old into deuce. Despite her aggression to earn a break, the world number 27 held, then forced a break for a 2-0 lead. It was 3-0 for the two-time finalist who had Sabalenka completely out of ideas on how to counter. The fifth seed managed to avoid another shutout and added a break to sit a game behind. It appeared to be short lived for the 22-year-old as the world number 27 broke her in the sixth and consolidated it for a 5-2 stand.
In her effort to stay alive in the match, Sabalenka held Azarenka to love in what was her best service game of the night. Despite her luck coming late, the 31-year-old finished things off reaching two match points where it came on a bad return from Sabalenka completing one hour and seven minutes.
“I knew how dangerous she was,” Azarenka said during her on court interview. “ I feel like I’ve been a better player this year and I changed a couple of things and was able to finish it today.”
She’ll get a day from singles play and await the winner between American Sachia Vickery and Poland’s Iga Swiatek on Saturday.
No comments:
Post a Comment