Victoria Azarenka destroys Alberta Brianti in second round – Luxembourg Open 2011
Top seeded Belarusian Victoria Azarenka destroyed Italian Alberta Brianti in the second round of the 2011 BGL BNP Paribas Luxembourg Open in Luxembourg on Thursday, 20th October. Azarenka, ranked 3rd in the world, took only sixty seven minutes to couple a bagel breadstick victory over the 31-year-old Italian.
Playing each other for the third time, Brianti perhaps wished third time would be the charm when she edged past the Belarusian. However, Azarenka had no leniency for the aged Italian. In their last meeting at Los Angeles in 2007, Azarenka had easily sailed past the Italian. Repeating the feat this time around, Azarenka once more sailed past the Italian as she increased her winning streak.
Winning the toss, Brianti opened serve in the first set. However, she failed to make it onto the scoreboard as the Belarusian broke her in the very first game. Another break later in the third game, Azarenka managed to go three games to none in the lead. Although Brianti put up a fight in the fourth game, as she looked to break Azarenka, however, the world number three was fierce in her returns and vigilant in her defence. The Belarusian continued her onslaught as she extended her perfect lead in the set. Breaking her opponent once more in the fifth game, Azarenka served out the set to clinch a bagel victory.
Wrapping up the first set in thirty minutes, Azarenka won an acceptable 69 percent on her first serve as opposed to her opponent’s abysmal 13 percent. With no aces struck in the set, Azarenka double faulted thrice.
A set down in the set score, Brianti opened serve once more. After several deuces and even more length rallies, Brianti finally made her way onto the scoreboard, for the first time in the match. This was, however, the last time she found herself up there. The Belarusian continued her onslaught into the second as she broke the Italian three times back to back to clinch a breadstick victory for herself.
Improving her first serve win to 75 percent, Azarenka hit one ace, zero double faults and converted three of seven breakpoint opportunities to her advantage to seal her straight sets victory.
Azarenka now moves into the last eight to face unseeded Czech Iveta Benesova. Benesova made her way into the quarterfinal after recieving a walkover against seventh seeded Russian Maria Kirilenko in the second round.
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