ZCZC
BSP-17
TENNIS-WTA-JPN
Mum’s the word as Azarenka storms into Tokyo quarters
TOKYO, Sept 20, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – 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.”
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1440 hrs