Pliskova controls battle of former No1s as Azarenka focuses on Murray pairing

Karolina Pliskova won the battle of former world No1s yesterday to reach the third round of Wimbledon for the first time in seven attempts with victory over Victoria Azarenka.

The seventh seed, who reached the 2016 US Open final, was anxious in her opening match against Briton Harriet Dart on Monday, but was controlled and composed in only her second Centre Court appearance against Azarenka to win 6-3, 6-3.

“I still think it was not completely perfect, but it was close to, let’s say, a seven or eight,” Pliskova said. “I still think I can serve much better than I did. It was enough today. Sometimes when she [Azarenka] doesn’t push you that much, you just don’t serve that well. I still think I can have a better percentage, maybe more aces. I know I can feel a little bit better.

“It was so far one of my best matches on grass. She’s always tough, so it’s never easy.”

Azarenka was unable to muster a break point against the big-serving Czech, who now faces Romania’s Mihaela Buzarnescu to secure a place in the second week of the Championships.

The Belarusian, who has not strung together two wins at European tournaments this spring and summer, will now turn her attention towards the mixed doubles after she teamed up with Jamie Murray.

Murray won the title alongside Martina Hingis last year, but Azarenka is not feeling under pressure to deliver.

“It’s always about the fun in the mixed doubles for me, but I’ll definitely take it seriously. I’m still there to play and do my job. But I think there is obviously less pressure than there is in singles and a lot more jokes in between.

“Jamie is an amazing player. To see how much he has progressed over the years and made a big name for himself is really cool. So I’m excited to play with him.”

Sloane Stephens’s conqueror, Donna Vekic, continued her impressive form to reach the third round by knocking Sweden’s Rebecca Peterson out of her first grand slam in south-west London. Vekic, the world No 55 is yet to drop a set in these championships.

The 2014 semi-finalist Lucie Safarova edged out Agnieszka Radwanska, the 32nd seed, in a tightfought affair 7-5, 6-4.

Kiki Bertens, seeded 20, dropped only four games en route to equalling her best showing at Wimbledon with a quick-fire victory over Russia’s Anna Blinkova. Bertens, from Holland, now faces five-times singles champion Venus Williams in the third round.