Victoria Azarenka slays Heather Watson in the opening round – Australian Open 2012
Third seed Victoria Azarenka destroyed the British competitor, Heather Watson, with a breadstick and a bagel at the Australian Open 2012, first major tennis event of the season taking place on the hard courts in Melbourne, Australia. She clobbered a 6-1, 6-0 victory over the 19-year-old Watson to book a second round spot on Monday.
Battling each other for the second time, the world number three, Azarenka, displayed brilliant skills to maintain her winning streak against the British, ranked 106th in the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) rankings. She reeled off last twelve games in a row to register this assuring score line in 66 minutes.
After the British teenager held her serve in the opening game, Azarenka went into the savage mode and wiped out next six games in a row. She manifested a higher first serve share of 62 percent in contrast with British’s 54 percent and clinched superb 10 out of 13 points on it. The Belarusian also fired eleven winners and converted three out of five break opportunities to her advantage, subsequently earning the breadstick in 36 minutes.
Belarusian number one kept momentum rushing in the second set and held her serve in the opening game. She maintained her intensity and stroke out next five games as well, eventually earning a bagel in 31 minutes. Azarenka kept her entire serves without facing any breakpoint and cashed in three out of five break chances again.
All in all, the third seed showed her true colours in the match. She manifested a slightly higher first serve share but registered magnificent 19 out of 23 points on it.
“Well, the score is easy. To actually play the match, it’s never easy, especially for me coming here only Saturday,” the blooming Belarusian said. She reached the Melbourne Park early and hit balls for the first time at Rod Laver Arena.
“First time I actually hit on centre court was today in the morning.”
Next in line for the high flying Belarusian is a local wild card entrant, Casey Dellacqua, who trashed Serbia’s Bojana Jovanovski in straight sets to reach this spot. The Aussie conquered the Serbian starlet for the first time in their third meeting after displaying her tremendous skills at the Margaret Court Arena.
World number 135, Dellacqua, brushed off six out of nine breakpoints she faced and capitalised on seven out of nine break opportunities, sealing the deal with a 6-3, 6-2 score line. The Aussie finished the match with 67 points as compared to Jovanovski’s 46.
Tags: