Caroline Garcia and Victoria Azarenka both tested in Mallorca

WTA Tour
Victoria Azarenka forehand

Top seed Caroline Garcia and Victoria Azarenka came through three-set matches to advance at the Mallorca Open.

Garcia won the opening set against Su-Wei Hsieh via a tie-breaker, but then had a shocker of a second set before winning the decider for a 7-6 (7-4), 1-6, 6-4 victory.

The Frenchwoman will face Johanna Larsson next after the Swede beat Sorana Cirstea 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Two-time Grand Slam winner Azarenka was also given a workout by lucky loser Stefanie Voegele from Switzerland.

The Belarusian needed two hours and 20 minutes to beat Voegele 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 7-5.

“It was not easy. For me, not playing so many matches, the first match on the grass is never easy, and I’m glad I was able to fight like I did,” Azarenka, who will face seventh seed Lucie Safarova next, said.

“These types of matches are going to happen, and especially for me to get into my rhythm after not playing for so long.

“Definitely there’s lots to improve: you know, little things. But the fighting was the key today for sure.”

Second seed Angelique Kerber was held up by bad light as her match against Alison Riske was suspended with the scores 7-5, 6-2, 1-1.

The third-ranked Anastasija Sevastova claimed a routine 6-3, 6-3 win over former Grand Slam winner Svetlana Kuznetsova.

However, sixth seed Danielle Collins from the United States is out as she was beaten 6-3, 6-3 by Swede Rebecca Peterson.

Other players to advance were Polona Hercog, Ajla Tomljanovic, Sofia Kenin and Antonia Lottner.

Angelique Kerber Caroline Garcia News Victoria Azarenka WTA Tour

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