Victoria Azarenka sympathises with stunned Serena Williams – Tennis News
World number one, Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, supported American legend, Serena Williams, after the latter got stunned in the first round at the French Open.
One of the title favourites in the women’s singles draw, Williams, was upset by Virginie Razzano of Italy in three sets 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-3 in the opener.
Azarenka said, “The first round is never easy. And you have to give a lot of credit to Virginie. She showed some exceptional tennis, that’s for sure.”
The American had entered the event in supreme form, as she had won titles at the Family Circle Cup and Mutua Madrid Open. She had also reached the last four at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia but gave walkover to Li Na due to injury
concern.
This happened for the first time in her career that Serena lost in the first round of a Major tournament. The 13-time Grand Slam winner was aiming to win her second French Open title, grabbing her only Roland Garros crown 10 years
back.
It proved to be an unlucky Grand Slam for the Williams sisters, as Venus also bowed out of the tournament in the second round.
Azarenka had also faced a scare in her first round match against Alberta Brianti, as she had lost the opening set and was 0-4 down in the second. However, she made a great comeback from there, winning 12 of the next 14 games and
sealing it 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-2.
The Belarusian added, “I think in the women’s game you have to be really ready right from the first match. That’s how I have felt for the last few years, that every match is going to be difficult right from the beginning. There
are no easy ones.”
However, Azarenka did not face any difficulty in routing her next opponent, Dinah Pfizenmaier, as she allowed her to win just a couple of games in the entire contest, beating the German in twin sets 6-1, 6-1.
She said, talking to the reporters after the match, “It was a different game. I didn’t really know my opponent today and it took me the first few games to understand what she does and what kind of game she plays.”
Azarenka is slated to face Aleksandra Wozniak of Canada in the third round. The Canadian reached the last 32 by surprising 31st seed, Jie Zhang of China, in straight sets 6-2, 6-4 in the second round.
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