Victoria Azarenka surpasses Maria Sanchez into the quarterfinal – Rogers Cup 2011
After battling it out on the hard courts of the Rexall Centre in York University, Toronto, Canada, Belarusian Victoria Azarenka won the match in straight sets of 6-1, 6-2 against the Espanola Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez during the third round of the Rogers Cup 2011.
The two were meeting for the fourth time in their professional career with their last meeting at the Kremlin Cup in Moscow Azarenka was still a match down in the head-to-head score but balanced it out to 2-2 after this victory.
Neither of the players had smashed an ace during the first set, however, Sanchez had a meticulous accuracy and struck zero double faults, while Azarenka’s accuracy had failed her and she struck 1 line fault and hence, lost a point.
Azarenka might have committed a double fault but overall in the set she was a better player and had 78% of the first serves on target, along with a sturdy defence that did not let her opponent break her. On the other hand, Sanchez was unable to save the three break points on her serve and was also neither able to win any.
Servicing skills and technique of Azarenka, were far better than the Hispanic’s (Sanchez), with a strong forehand that was difficult to play, she won 67% of her total service points, whereas the Espanola was able to win a 42% win of the total service points.
With a resoluteness to win this set and the match, the Belarusian re-coiled most of her adversary’s shots and achieved a commendable 58% of her total return points, against Sanchez, who barely attained a pitiable 38% win in her total return points. The Belarusian was a stronger competition, as she won the set winning 62% of the total set points.
Following her victory in the first set the Belarusian was not to slip and give the second set to her opponent; instead she restricted the Espanola to only two games.
As Azarenka’s confidence was at its peak. So was her precision and she did not strike a single double fault, while with a unsteady hand her opponent struck a net ball. Amidst the set, neither of the players threw an ace, but the world number 4 was to prove that this was her spot and so, with a dominant serving technique was able to not only hit 70% of her first serves on target but also managed to bag 12 out of 20 points, which were a grand 60% of the total service points.
On the contrary, Sanchez’s strategy was hacked and her weakness exposed, hence, she was only able to clinch a dismal 28% of her total returns, along with, a mediocre return as opposed to Azarenka, who won a praiseworthy 72% of her total return points.
Although, neither of the players were able to save their break point both manages to win a 100% but Azarenka broke her opponent thrice as in opposition to Sanchez who broke once, hence taking a competitive edge over her, Azarenka won the set by accomplishing 66% of the total set points.
Victoria Azarenka, not only finally managed to equalize her head-to-head but also secured a spot in the quarterfinal of the Rogers Cup where she will face Galina Voskoeboeva.
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