Azarenka storms into quarters
To face Giorgi in last eight at Pan Pacific Open
Former world No.1 Victoria Azarenka thrashed Australian Ashleigh Barty 6-4, 6-2 to reach the Pan Pacific Open quarterfinals on Thursday as she seeks a return to the top after giving birth in late 2016.
The Belarusian slipped further down the rankings as a result of a lengthy custody battle over baby Leo. She will face Italy’s 37th-ranked Camila Giorgi, who upset top seed Caroline Wozniacki 6-2, 2-6, 6-4, in the last eight.
Wild card 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 twotime Australian Open champion delivered the coup de grace by jamming up Barty with a vicious kick serve into the rib cage 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 quarterfinals 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 quarterfinal against Japan’s newly crowned US Open champion Naomi Osaka.
The Olympic doubles bronze medalist took the first-set tiebreaker 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.”