Victoria Azarenka fights to win opening round at Qatar Open

Victoria Azarenka celebrates a point during her opening round match at the Qatar TotalEnergies Open.

Victoria Azarenka worked out the kinks to get through the opening round of the Qatar Total Energies Open Monday night. The conditions from day to night caused problems for the former world number one against Magdalena Frech, who took it to the distance in a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 result on Centre Court at the Khalifa International Tennis Complex.

The 34-year-old took a break after the Australian Open to prepare for her eighth appearance in Doha, facing the Pole for the first time. The two-time champion comes to the Middle East comfortable as her success in the area gave her a chance to get on the right foot. Frech’s win over Caroline Garcia in Melbourne marked her first top-50 win. Getting one more facing Azarenka proved a tougher challenge against the hard hitting righthander.

The former world number one opened scoring on serve and the two remained that way through three games. Frech faced a break late in the fourth for Azarenka to capture a two-game lead on her second chance, taking one from the 26-year-old. The wind picked up during the fifth, making it tough for Azarenka to serve it just right. Frech forced deuce and had a break chance, only to see it slip on the second deuce.

The 34-year-old made it 4-1 on serve, but couldn’t convert another break in the sixth. Frech’s offense was great, holding her opponent to a point on serve and playing well under the conditions. She dug in during the seventh game, forcing deuce from 30-40 down. She played five breaks with Azarenka until the win came into her hands. The margin fell to one for the 34-year-old, who blew her first service game of the match, opening the door for Frech to convert.

Azarenka traded points in the eighth, waiting for her time to strike late and take the break back. She put a bow on the first set, shutting Frech out while on serve to lead the match after 54 minutes. She had 12 winners but a hair more unforced errors pushed her to improve late and roll it into the second set.

It was there that she pulled tricks out of her bag, responding well on the returns. She almost broke her to love but despite a missed shot, didn’t allow her to climb back. Frech answered back, building up a few breakpoints, holding Azarenka to saving one. The 34-year-old worked the drop shots into her attack in the third, scoring the double break on Frech. She tied in a comfortable service hold in the fourth increasing the first serve percentage. The Polish star denied a double break from building together, earning points on mistakes from Azarenka’s return.

She turned the tables to break Azarenka in the sixth, evening up the score on beautiful winners. It took effort on the part of Frech to hold serve, battling Azarenka’s crosscourt shots and edging away enough to lead for the first time. She enjoyed the comfort of having good break opportunities against the former world number one, waiting for the right one to convert and lead 5-3.

The 26-year-old had every element of her game right where she wanted it, controlling the game on serve to come out on top. Winning her fifth game in a row against Azarenka allowed her to take the set and force a decider after 40 minutes. The second serve of Azarenka’s was beyond dismal and a major factor in her losing the chance to win in straight sets. Frech didn’t have many winners or unforced errors, but her offense was well-rounded to put her on the right path.

The two players put a lot of effort into the first game which lasted 11 minutes. Azarenka came out with the victory on serve, but her struggles continued to rattle. In the third game, the 34-year-old saw her opponent stand with a break in reach. She fought to turn things around and bring up deuce. Through four breaks, Frech produced three chances for herself, but couldn’t get it done. After five games, they remained on serve, with Azarenka upping the ante on her offense.

She achieved her second shutout of Frech in the match, hoping that it was the statement to turn the set in her favor. A break opportunity arrived and slipped away for the 34-year-old, who watched her opponent save breakpoints and level the score at three-all. The seventh was heavily contested, with Frech fighting to deuce and getting a breakpoint in position. Azarenka took the second break for the lead and went on to make Frech regret it. The 34-year-old dominated the eighth, holding the 26-year-old to a point on serve.

Serving for the match, Azarenka hit well on the forehand, positioned herself well for the returns, and earned match point on a long ball from Frech. She capped it with a winner to take the win after 2 hours and 35 minutes.