Mum's The Word As Azarenka Storms Into Tokyo Quarters
Muhammad Rameez Published September 20, 2018 | 04:31 PM
Former world number one Victoria Azarenka thrashed Australian Ashleigh Barty 6-4, 6-2 to reach the Pan Pacific Open quarter-finals Thursday as she seeks a return to the top after giving birth in late 2016.
Tokyo, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Sep, 2018 ) :Former world number one Victoria Azarenka thrashed Australian Ashleigh Barty 6-4, 6-2 to reach the Pan Pacific Open quarter-finals Thursday as she seeks a return to the top after giving birth in late 2016.
The Belarusian, who slipped further down the rankings as a result of a lengthy custody battle over baby Leo, will face either top seed Caroline Wozniacki, who is chasing a hat-trick of Tokyo titles, or Italy's Camila Giorgi in the last eight.
Wildcard Azarenka, currently 63rd on the women's WTA rankings, broke for 4-3 with a dipping backhand and clinched the opening set with a fizzing pass that landed on Barty's shoelaces, forcing the seventh seed to dump a forehand into the net.
Azarenka raced to a 4-1 lead in the second set and the two-time Australian Open champion delivered the coup de grace by jamming up Barty with a vicious kick serve into the ribcage on her second match point.
"That makes me feel a little old, but I'm happy to be here," said Azarenka, 29, when informed she had reached the quarter-finals for the first time since 2012.
"Obviously it's been a while since I've played, I'm just trying to look day by day and see what happens. But I'm definitely enjoying my time on court these days." Earlier, Czech Barbora Strycova won a tempestuous encounter with Estonia's Anett Kontaveit 7-6, 3-6, 7-5 to set up a quarter-final against Japan's newly crowned US Open champion Naomi Osaka.
The Olympic doubles bronze medallist took the first-set tiebreak 7-5 but both players screamed in frustration at their wastefulness in a contest that lasted well over three hours.
Having used all her challenges, Strycova huffily staged a sit-down protest after Kontaveit saved one of eight match points with a passing shot that replays showed missed the line by some margin.
But the Czech returned to her task and closed out the match when Kontaveit whiffed a drive-volley far beyond the baseline.
"I know I will have to play very well to beat Naomi," said Strycova.
"She's a star -- she's just won a Grand Slam, which was such a huge success for her. Playing in Japan the support will be for her but I'll try my best and see what happens."
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Tennis: ATP Barcelona Open results - 1st update
Swiatek's perfect 10 in Stuttgart as Vondrousova stuns Sabalenka
Arandu's roads closed due to flooding
Oil tanker catches fire in Islamabad’s Blue Area
Pakistan committed to ensure safety of foreign nationals: FO
Tennis: WTA Stuttgart results - 1st update
Four passengers injured as train hit an empty vehicle
Over- speeding bus crushed to death two bike riders
Turkey's Freedom Flotilla ready to set sail for Gaza
French teen dies from heart failure after knife attack near school
Iranians appear unfazed by Isfahan blasts
UAF celebrates Int'l Chinese Language Day
More Stories From Sports
-
Tennis: ATP Barcelona Open results - 1st update
8 hours ago -
Swiatek's perfect 10 in Stuttgart as Vondrousova stuns Sabalenka
8 hours ago -
Tennis: WTA Stuttgart results - 1st update
8 hours ago -
Tennis: WTA Stuttgart results
9 hours ago -
Inaugurate of fitness gym at Ayum Stadium on 25th April
9 hours ago -
Tennis: ATP Barcelona Open results
9 hours ago
-
Women’s One-Day tournament: Multan beat Rawalpindi, Quetta beat Peshawar, Lahore beat Karachi
9 hours ago -
Argentinian Etcheverry sees off Norrie to head into Barcelona Open semis
11 hours ago -
Pakistan all set to face New Zealand tomorrow
13 hours ago -
Duplantis to unleash 'inner' pole vault contest as Olympics beckon
13 hours ago -
Tennis: ATP Barcelona Open results
13 hours ago -
'All-or-nothing' Norris takes sprint pole in rain chaos at Chinese GP
14 hours ago