By Chris Oddo | Monday July 30, 2018
Victoria Azarenka fought past Kateryna Bondarenko to book a second-round clash with Garbine Muguruza at San Jose.
Photo Source: Ezra Shaw/Getty
Victoria Azarenka failed to convert three match points late in the second set against Kateryna Bondarenko on Monday night at the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic, but true to form the feisty Belarussian battled back and overcame a break deficit in set three to win 6-3 6-7(7), 7-5.
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"It's a really challenging time for me and my game right now," Azarenka told Andrew Krasny in an on-court interview after the match. "You can see with my game, there's a lot of ups and downs. The important thing is that I'm here, I'm fighting hard, and I try to do my best. That's all I can ask of myself.”
In a battle of moms it was Azarenka who managed her serve slightly better and that was the difference down the stretch as the 29-year-old broke twice to relieve the pressure and take charge of the contest in set three.
Azarenka rallied from 5-2 down and threatened to win in straights, but some inspired tennis from the Ukrainian made it impossible.
“I should have probably played better at the end of the second set,” Azarenka said.
Azarenka was troubled by 13 double-faults and will need to be much more in command if she hopes to get by Spain’s Garbiñe Muguruza in round two. Azarenka took her only prior meeting with Muguruza, but knows she’s in for a stern test against the top-seeded World No7.
"She's a great player, she's improved a lot in the last few years, winning two Grand Slams," she said.
In the final match of the evening 19-year-old wild card Ashley Kratzer took out Alison Riske, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5, for her first WTA win.
Other winners on a busy Day 1 of main draw play at San Jose were Maria Sakkari, who defeated Christina McHale, 6-2, 6-2, Sofia Kenin who defeated Veronica Cepede Royg, 6-4, 6-4 and Danielle Collins who got past compatriot Danielle Lao, 7-6(2), 6-3.