Fresh off a doubles title in Madrid, two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka has stepped up her singles sport on the crimson clay courts on the Italian Open by defeating Sloane Stephens 6-4 6-3 in her opening match.
Stephens was coming off a singles title at a smaller clay-court occasion in Saint Malo, France, whereas Azarenka misplaced her singles opener in Madrid.
“I was definitely quite nervous before the match,” Azarenka stated. “I felt like I didn’t have too many matches under my belt and Sloane just won the tournament, so I knew she’s in a good form, so I just tried to kind of stay focused on myself.”
The technique labored, as Azarenka overpowered Stephens with baseline winners, plus a drop-shot winner to conclude an extended rally halfway by means of the second set when she broke for a 4-2 lead.
Azarenka is making her 14th look on the Foro Italico, having reached the ultimate in 2013, when she misplaced to Serena Williams.
“It feels like it was such a long time ago,” Azarenka stated. “Time goes by fast. I try to appreciate every moment I have on the court. I’m not sure how long I will play longer, so I want to enjoy it. But I still feel like I can be very competitive.”
This yr, Azarenka has reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open and received the doubles title final week with Beatriz Haddad Maia, who she’s partnering once more in Rome.
Also, 2019 Rome champion and two-time runner-up Karolina Pliskova was eradicated by Hungarian qualifier Anna Bondar 7-6 (7-5) 6-2; Wang Xiyu defeated Madrid quarter-finalist Irina-Camelia Begu 6-4 7-5; and Eleventh-seeded Veronika Kudermetova beat Nuria Parrizas Diaz 7-5 6-2.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
