Azarenka Keeps Calm in Three Sets Against Flipkens

Top seed Victoria Azarenka didn't let dropping the first set to Kristen Flipkens rattle her too much en route to reaching the fourth round at Indian Wells.

By Erik Gudris

(March 11th, 2012) -- The word subdued doesn't get used often to describe Victoria Azarenka. But that was the best way to describe her performance during her third round match at the BNP Paribas Open.

Taking on No. 29 seed Kristen Flipkens of Belgium, Azarenka once again appeared rather flat in the opening games as she did against Daniela Hantuchova in her previous match. Despite that, Azarenka went up a quick 2-0 thanks to an early break but couldn't keep her advantage even when she held it again at 3-2.

Flipkens read Azarenka's serve well enough to break back and soon found herself serving for the set at 5-3. Azarenka tossed her racquet in frustration, but that was the only real emotion she would show all night. The next game saw Azarenka add to her 16 total unforced error count and just like that, Flipkens was able to pocket the first set 6-3.

Showing no reaction to having dropped the set, Azarenka went about the task at hand of getting through the evening in three sets. Once again, Azarenka found herself up 2-0 thanks to a deft drop shot but Flipkens raised her own game and with back to back passing shot winners broke serve right back. Flipkens delighted the crowd with her all-court game backed up with some spanked forehand winners. At 3-all, it seemed just for a moment Flipkens might pull off the unthinkable.

But instead it was Azarenka who stepped up while Flipkens came back down to earth. Errors from Flipkens allowed Azarenka to reel off 12 straight points to claim the set 6-3.

The ending then felt even more inevitable as Azarenka secured yet another early 2-0 lead in the final set thanks to a forehand that just plopped on the line. Flipkens challenged just to be sure as Azarenka walked to her chair for a tissue to blow her nose. Azarenka knew the ball was in and the Hawk-Eye system showed it to be just that. The Australian Open champion had no qualms about how this night's episode would turn out.

Azarenka continued her match to the finish with a forehand return winner that gave her a 5-0 lead. She then served out the match in convincing if rather perfunctory fashion 3-6, 6-3, 6-0 to reach the fourth round. The win marked Azarenka's 35th match victory in regular competition since losing to Serena Williams in the U.S. Open finals.

If in the past we have been used to see Azarenka get emotional or look out of sorts in close matches, this was the exact opposite. She may not have played her best, but Azarenka's own innate confidence that she wouldn't exit early is what showed through the most from her tonight. The crowd might have hoped for an upset, but what they got was a professional performance from a woman who is used to winning every time she steps on court.

Azarenka will next face Urszula Radwanska who ousted the last remaining American woman in the draw, Jamie Hampton, 6-0, 7-6(4).

(Photo Credit: Tony Chang/Chang Photography)