Pliskova upstages Azarenka
In battle of former No. 1s, the Czech player beats Belarusian opponent in straight sets
LONDON: Seventh seed Karolina Pliskova won a battle of former world number ones as she beat Victoria Azarenka 6-3, 6-3 to reach the third round at Wimbledon for the first time on Wednesday. Big-serving Czech Pliskova reached the top of the rankings a year ago at Wimbledon despite losing in the second round— the fifth year in succession she had lasted only two matches.
From the moment Azarenka dropped serve with a loose error in the third game, Pliskova always looked likely to break that sequence against the Bel a russian who is still trying to rediscover her past form after returning from having a baby. Azarenka tried to fire herself up when she resisted some pressure to hold serve at the start of the second set.
But Pliskova broke for a 5-3 lead and was then helped by two Azarenka double faults that brought groans from the sedate crowd who had been hoping for something more exciting.
“I think I was pretty solid today, I think I was really strong on my serve which was really important ,” the 26- year-old Plisk ova said after walking off court.
“Very happy with my victory as it is the first time I am in the third round here. The last few years I was waiting for a good result and it still didn’t come, maybe this year is the time; I am feeling great.”
RAONIC ADVANCES
Milos Raonic hit 34 aces to beat John Millman of Australia in straight sets and reach the third round. The 2016 runner-up won 7-6 (4), 7-6 (4), 7-6 (4) in a match that only featured one break of serve for each player in the seconds et. Ra onic reached the third round for a sixth straight year, having lost to eventual champion Roger Fe der erin last year’ s quarter finals.
Meanwhile, Mihaela Buzarnescu of Romania became the first player to book a place in the third round. The 29th-seeded Buzarnescu beat Katie Swan of Britain 6-0, 6-3, clinching the match with a backhand winner. She was joined in the third round minutes later by 10th-seeded Madison Key soft he US, who dispatched Luksika Kumkhum of Thailand 6-4, 6-3.