Victoria Azarenka sails into the second round of 2011 Andalucia Tennis Experience
World number six Victoria Azarenka eased past Spanish Arantxa Parra Santonja 6-2, 6-3 to book her place in the second round of 2011 Andalucia Tennis Experience in Marbella, Italy.
Belarusian star has looked to be in terrific form since the start of this season. She reached the quarterfinals at Sydney to start to the year with. She then made it to the quarterfinals of the Prestigious 2011 BNP Paribas Open.
Azarenka’s next Women’s Tennis Association tour appearance was recorded at 2011 Sony Ericson Open. The 21-year-old defeated world number Kim Clijsters and number three seed Vera Zvonareva en route to the final. In the final the 21-year-old Belarusian made
quick work of 16th seed Maria Sharapova 6-1, 6-4 to win sixth WTA title of her career.
“I changed my mentality a little bit,” said Azarenka. “I’m enjoying myself so much on the court that there’s no room for me for frustration. I just don’t care if I lose – what I mean is not to create such a big drama out of it.
If you lose the match, it’s not the end of the world.”
Top seeded at the WTA tournament, Azarenka looked in commanding form right from the start. She made her first serve break of the match in second game of the first set with four straight points. Azarenka then had another chance
to break her opponent’s serve in the seventh game. She successfully converted the second break point to earn an impassable 5-2 lead in the set. She then held on to her next service game to wrap up the opener 6-2.
Azarenka continued to time the ball brilliantly in the second set as well. She broke the serve twice in the set and won her service games comfortably to seal the match in straight sets 6-2, 6-3. Her aggressive baseline play proved
to be the main the real difference between the two contestants. The Belarusian executed her game plan to perfection and made her opponent look extremely ineffective.
Winning a premier WTA title in Miami last week has certainly done a lot of good to up Azarenka’s confidence level. She is often criticized for her weak serve however here in her opening match at 2011 Marbella she served with deadly
accuracy to achieve an impressive 75 per cent first serve conversion. The Belarusian also had a rock solid defence which allowed her play her game more freely and save crucial points against. Azarenka saved four out four break points during the contest which
of course dented Parra Santonja’s strategy immensely.
Azarenka will now take on another Spaniard Laura Pous-Tio in her second round match-up at the clay courts WTA tournament. Pous-Tio defeated Polona Hercog 6-1, 6-2.
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