Azarenka returns to Doha in strong performance at Qatar Totalenergies Open

Victoria Azarenka clenches her first to celebrate a point won during her round one match with Ipek Oz at the Qatat Totalenergies Open.

Victoria Azarenka shined bright to take down the competition at the Qatar Total energies Open Monday night. The former world number one handled Ipek Oz on center court winning 6-1, 6-1 at the Khalifa International Tennis Complex

The two-time champion from a decade back returned to Doha after a six-year absence from the venue. Though she hasn’t had much consistent success early this season, Azarenka’s run in Adelaide and making the Australian Open semifinals was a great start to January. Oz made another stamp to her WTA career by facing a former world number one and entering her fifth main draw appearance with a wildcard. In her second run in the Qatari capital, the Turkish player faced a challenge against the 33-year-old as well as thoughts of her country still in peril.

Azarenka was first to serve and managed a shutout over the 23-year-old. Oz got on the board with a hold in the second, but the control went back into the hands of the tennis veteran. The 33-year-old scored her second blank on the Turkish player, and earn the first break of serve in the fourth. She added two more for a commanding 5-1 stand, serving to try and close out the first set. Oz couldn’t handle the pace Azarenka brought to the score and took the match lead after 30 minutes. The former number one landed 12 winners that silenced the return game of the Turkish star.

Azarenka handled the opening serve of Oz in the second set, allowing her a point in the game before gaining the break. The 33-year-old consolidated and scored the double break swiftly. Just when it looked as if it would continue one way, Oz stabbed out a win for the break back, getting ahead on the scoreboard in the fourth. Azarenka brushed off the short defeat and delivered a third shutout for the 4-1 lead.

She continued her march, sealing another victory from the service, giving Oz one last chance to change the strong tide. The 23-year-old made some early mistakes that allowed Azarenka to take control of the game and put herself in place for match point. A return fell wide of the tramlines and then the 11-shot rally for the next point gave Oz another shot at holding serve. It was the first game to go to deuce, but after three match points lost, Azarenka got it done and dusted. She denied Oz an AD point and clinched the round-one victory in one hour and seven minutes.