‘Vintage Vika’: Azarenka storms into Wimbledon third round

Published by Matt Trollope

Victoria Azarenka surrendered just two games in a second-round win over Ajla Tomljanovic at Wimbledon (Getty Images)
Victoria Azarenka shows flashes of her best in a second-round drubbing of Ajla Tomljanovic at Wimbledon, which sets up a meeting with Simona Halep.

Victoria Azarenka sounded a warning to her rivals with a thumping win over Ajla Tomljanovic on Wednesday at Wimbledon.

Azarenka was broken early in the first set, but from 0-2 down, reeled off 12 straight games to complete a 6-2 6-0 victory.

The win sends her through to the third round of a Grand Slam for just the second time since she advanced to the last 16 at SW19 in 2017, in just the second event of her comeback since she became a mother.

That year, her campaign was ended by Simona Halep. And two years on, Azarenka finds herself up against the Romanian again, after Halep got past countrywoman Mihaela Buzarnescu in three sets.

Also advancing to the third round was No.3 seed Karolina Pliskova – a 6-0 6-4 winner over Monica Puig – and Caroline Wozniacki, who saw off Veronika Kudermatova in straight sets.

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“In my singles I did a good job,” said Azarenka, who returned to the court later on Wednesday for her first-round doubles match with Ash Barty and posted a 6-0 6-1 win over Lidziya Marozava and Storm Sanders.

“I was focused and started the match with a few errors, and kind of after that turned it around and I really, like, stepped it up and didn’t let go.”

This was a perfectly accurate assessment of the match.

Azarenka was simply relentless throughout the 63-minute encounter, finishing the match with more than double the amount of Tomljanovic’s winners while committing just 12 unforced errors, almost half the tally of the Australian.

Azarenka controlled the centre of the court against an increasingly frustrated and overwhelmed Tomljanovic, who started to press, and miss.

“Felt like it was vintage Vika out there today,” a dejected Tomljanovic said.

“I don’t know how long it’s been since she’s been on her comeback, but I just think today there was no up and down from her, which is what she was so good at when she was No.1 and winning Slams.

“She would get ahead and then wouldn’t give you any room to breathe. She’s offensive when she can be, great defence, makes most of the returns, so she doesn’t have many holes when she’s playing like this.

“It’s probably one of the worst feelings, for me … where I feel like it’s going away from me really quickly and especially with quality opponents that run with it when they’re ahead. It’s hard.”

“Amazing tennis”

Australian Fed Cup captain Alicia Molik, who was watching from the stands on Court 12, told Tennismash that Azarenka had frequently forced the aggressive Tomljanovic onto the defensive, getting points on her terms.

“(She) really used her backhand down the line well. It was just a bit difficult for Ajla today to hit out of that forehand corner,” Molik observed.

“But that’s the type and calibre of player Vika is – she jumps on top of you when you are playing defensively. She loves hitting the swing volleys, which she did.

“And difficult match for Ajla, but gosh, some amazing tennis (from Azarenka) at the same time.”

And so to Halep, whom Azarenka has not beaten since 2012.

When asked what the key to the match-up was, the former world No.1 and two-time Australian Open champion gave a simple reply. “To play my game,” she said.

“I feel like when I’m focused on that, it doesn’t really matter who is on the other side. I think that’s the best approach for me and to generate my own chances and convert them.”

Should she replicate the form she produced in swatting aside Tomljanovic, Halep is faced with the prospect of a difficult day.

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