It wasn’t plain sailing all the way through, but Victoria Azarenka’s experience in tight moments paid dividends as the two-time Major champion outlasted British number one Katie Boulter during two contrasting sets of tennis to punch her ticket into the Miami Open quarter-finals for the first time in six years.
Boulter endures tough day at the office
- Azarenka won 76% of points behind her first serve, 20 more total (79-59) and served five aces (Boulter had 5 double-faults) against British number one en route to reaching her first Miami Open quarter-final since 2018
- A whirlwind encounter: Boulter saved five set points in the opening frame after originally being 5-2 down, but sharply trailed off as momentum favoured the former world no. 1 and she raced away to straight-sets score
- “There’s so much competition now and that’s amazing, keeps everyone on their toes… you can’t slack. I gotta keep improving,” Azarenka tells Tennis Channel in post-match interview, plays Yulia Putintseva next tomorrow
- Elsewhere in the women’s draw… Caroline Garcia fends off Coco Gauff fightback to win in three sets, Putintseva’s compatriot Rybakina won clean against Madison Keys while Danielle Collins’ efficient hitting proved too much for Sorana Cirstea as M1000 tournament enters business end
Azarenka [27] bt. Boulter [24] 7-5, 6-1
Three-time Miami Open champion Victoria Azarenka found herself under the kosh at the back of the court for extended periods during a tight finish to the opening set of her maiden H2H matchup against Katie Boulter, but utilised momentum to race away from what quickly proved a drastic drop-off by the British number one.
Having won this event in 2009, 2011 and securing the Sunshine Double (winning both Indian Wells, Miami Open titles the same month) in 2016, 34-year-old Azarenka was praised for being in excellent physical shape on the broadcast as she hustled to balls and seemed to relish battling from all angles during their longer rally exchanges.
After being stunned in three sets during her opening match by America’s Caroline Dolehide in California a fortnight ago, the Belarusian fended off Dolehide’s younger compatriot Peyton Stearns (22) before toppling Australian Open finalist Qinwen Zheng (21) the following day to reach round four.
Boulter’s steady rise into prominence recently means she’s playing many of the top-ranked talent for the first time and in Azarenka, was duly punished for inconsistent shot execution despite forehands keeping Vika uncomfortable for a period where the 27-year-old had nothing to lose, down 5-2 in the opening set.
“She played more free, it was definitely tricky but glad I stayed strong in the first and that gave me more confidence into the second. I served well, closed it out – wasn’t easy – but glad I made it through.”
- Azarenka on confidence gained from winning set one
Azarenka dropped just four points behind her first serve (13/17) in set two, compared to a 50% ratio for the Brit, who wasn’t given a chance to settle when balls were in her hand despite belatedly making more first serves herself. Scoreboard pressure, being down 0-30 for instance, quickly told and the former world no. 1 pounced.
Praised for attacking the 24th seed’s second serves, during a match that could’ve easily been quicker than the hour-and-45-minute tussle it proved, Azarenka refused to rest on her laurels and instead doubled down on her desire to improve.
“I’m known for that, it’s not something new but as tennis evolves – becoming more powerful and aggressive – I’m still trying to improve, take it to another level, so to compete against the best, I need to elevate aswell.
There’s a lot more science in sport now, tennis is far behind some in that aspect but a lot of girls work not only on their tennis skills, but physicality, eyes, everything.”
Having reached the Qatar quarters last month before losing to Iga Swiatek, then retiring the following week in R2 against 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, she could face the hard-hitting Kazakh again in the semis with victory over Putintseva – Indian Wells runner-up Maria Sakkari awaits her tomorrow.
Picture source: Getty Images, quotes via Tennis Channel
Mo and Sports 