Sunday, 23 January 2022

2022 AO 4R - Krejcikova d Azarenka

Barbora Krejcikova (4) (Czech Republic) v Victoria Azarenka (24) (Belarus)

Round of sixteen 

Azarenka won their only previous meeting - round of sixteen, Ostrava, October 2020.

Azarenka served first, and it was a love game, complete with an ace and finished with a forehand winner 
Krejcikova levelled, but she took the long way home, throwing in a double fault and visiting deuce twice.
Azarenka must have been distracted, because her second try from the line was rather inconsistent.
Two game points were wasted - both through unforced backhand errors.
Krejcikova converted her only break chance with a backhand winner to lead 2-1.

Then we saw three successive love games, both players free to hit winners from all over the court.
Krejcikova led 4-2.

In the seventh game Azarenka, from 40-30, fell victim to the Krejcikova forehand. Two winners from that shot found Vika down a break point, and sadly a double fault gave Krejcikova a double break. 

Serving for the set at 5-2, Krejcikova began with an ace. Azarenka replied with a forehand return winner. 
A couple of Azarenka errors and two set points arrived.
Krejcikova forced Azarenka wide on the first of them. The error came and the set was won 6-2.

Set two began in the same manner, Krejcikova having three break points.
Two unforced errors and a double fault from Azarenka formed the situation, and a Krejcikova forehand winner sealed the deal.
1-0.
To consolidate, Krejcikova started with a pair of aces, but then Azarenka hit a backhand winner and Krejcikova contributed a couple of unforced errors.
Facing her first break point, the fourth seed was lucky to receive an Azarenka unforced error.
Krejcikova held for 2-0.

Azarenka, with timely good serving, forcing errors from the Czech racquet, saved a break point and held.
Azarenka created three break points, two with clean winners. Krejcikova saved two, but not the third, and Azarenka was back on serve.

Two forehand errors and a double fault from Azarenka gave the break straight back. Krejcikova led 3-2.
A love game with two aces and a forehand winner consolidated the break for Krejcikova.
Azarenka saved two break points in the seventh game, but double faulted on the third, and Krejcikova would serve for the match.

At 5-2, and serving for the match, Krejcikova didn’t have an issue. Azarenka hit one winner, but her errors were enough for Krejcikova to sail to victory 6-2 6-2.
Her quarter final will be against Madison Keys. 

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