Victoria Azarenka vs. Ana Ivanovic: Third round preview – Mutua Madrid Open 2012
With the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) Tour entering the clay-court season, the race to glory at the Premier Mandatory event in Madrid has got even intense. Top class tennis professionals have descended on the new blue clay courts to clinch gold at the Mutua Madrid Open this week. Reigning world number one, Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, is all geared up to take on the former top ranked Serbian diva, Ana Ivanovic, in the third round clash of the coveted WTA tournament.
The highly anticipated brawl will be played on Wednesday and the winner will be awarded a berth in the quarter-final round of the tournament. The belligerent world number one, Azarenka, is deemed to be the hot favourite for winning the Madrid title, whilst the Serbian tennis fans are hoping to see a stunning performance from Ivanovic to register a major upset.
Azarenka’s dream run of form in the running WTA season has made her one of the most fearsome opponent on any sort of tennis courts. She is currently 31-2 this year and has already bagged four championship titles, including the all-prestigious Grand Slam trophy, the Australian Open. Azarenka clinched the world number one spot from Caroline Wozniacki and has been blasting her way through most of the tournament she played to consolidate her place in the WTA rankings.
The Belarusian’s invincibility in the 2012 season has been breached only twice until the Madrid Open. Marion Bartoli and Maria Sharapova are the only two competitors to have defeated Azarenka this year and the Serbian tennis lovers are anxiously waiting to see Ivanovic add her name to this short list of victors against the top ranked Belarusian.
Azarenka took off her Madrid campaign by outmuscling the former world number two, Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia, in the opening round of the event. She then cruised through the second round draw after downing the Czech qualifier, Andrea Hlavackova, 6-3, 7-6(2), to book a date with Ivanovic in the pre-quarter-finals.
Seeded at number 13 in the tournament draw, Ivanovic had no difficulties in her initial round matches in Madrid. She overwhelmed the French qualifier, Mathilde Johansson, in the opening draw and repeated the similar results to dispose of the Russian veteran, Nadia Petrova, 7-5, 6-1, to meet the top seed Belarusian.
Ivanovic has faced Azarenka on three previous occasions and leads the head-to-head record by 2-1 over her. They had their last encounter at 2010 Cincinnati Masters and Ivanovic won the enthralling three-setter at 2-6, 7-6(6), 6-2, on the hard courts. Both these competitors are 1-1 on clay courts and it evenly poises the upcoming competition at the Madrid Open.
"Vika has been playing extremely well lately, and it's a challenge for anyone against her," Ivanovic said. "When I saw the draw I really wanted to get to this round and challenge myself against the World No.1. I hope I can bring the same level as I did today. I'm going to compete and we'll see how it goes."
Ivanovic has 1-7 record while playing against reigning world number one players and it certainly gives an advantage to Azarenka. With an explosive form and determination to sweep the WTA clay season this year, Azarenka is considered to be the hot favourite for winning the contest in straight sets. If Ivanovic pulled her down in the contest, it will not be anything less than a three-setter.
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