Victoria Azarenka sets up ‘very special match’ against Serena Williams

It will be the battle of the former world No 1s in the second round of the Indian Wells as Victoria Azarenka secured an opening-round win to set up a clash against Serena Williams.
Two-time Grand Slam winner Azarenka earned a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Vera Lapko in one hour and 24 minutes.
.@vika7 advances to the @BNPPARIBASOPEN second round!
Defeats countrywoman Lapko, 6-2, 6-3! pic.twitter.com/BxDD1su5Q4
— WTA (@WTA) March 7, 2019
The Belarusian, though, was broken first as Lapko took a 2-0 lead, but she won the next six games to take the set and then raced into a 4-0 lead in the second set after two early breaks of serve.
Up next is fellow mother and 23-time Grand Slam winner Williams.
“Of course it’s going to be a very special match for us,” Azarenka said.
“We have such a big history, it’s going to be really special. She motivates me, she inspires me, she pushes me to be better.”
British No 1 Johanna Konta also secured a routine win as she beat France’s Pauline Parmentier 6-2, 6-3 to earn a match against 27th seed Hsieh Su-wei of Taiwan.
“Just aim for the sun. Just think the sun is the ball.”
Whatever works. Right, @JohannaKonta? 😂#BNPPO19 pic.twitter.com/jGvtzEzb03
— WTA (@WTA) March 6, 2019
Americans Amanda Anisimova and Sofia Kenin advanced with contrasting wins as the former beat Serbia’s Aleksandra Krunic 6-0 6-4 while Kenin overcame a first-set loss to beat China’s Wang Yafan 1-6, 7-5, 6-4.
Davria Gavrilova from Australia secured her first win of the 2019 season as she beat Ukrainian teenager Dayana Yastremska 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 while Canadian wildcard Bianca Andreescu was a 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 6-3 winner over Irina-Camelia Begu.
More from Tennis365:
-
-
Indian Wells Masters: Facts and figures about the joint ATP-WTA event
-
-
A to Z of tennis for February: A ‘disrespectful’ Nick Kyrgios and an ‘inhuman’ Novak Djokovic
-
Roger Federer’s 100 singles titles: From Milan 2001 to Dubai 2019
-
Top 10 players with most singles titles: Where do Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal rank?
-
Latest
-
News
Australian Open preparations rocked by fourth positive Covid case
A positive test was returned by a broadcast team member on a charter flight from Los Angeles.
-
News
Players were made aware of isolation risks on arrival to Australia – Craig Tiley
Forty seven players will have to remain in their hotel rooms for 14 days.
-
Australian Open
Andy Murray’s waiting game as anger mounts after tennis players fly in for Australian Open
Andy Murray is waiting to see if there is any way he compete in the Australian Open after testing positive for Covid-19.
-
News
Positive Covid cases on flights to Australia put 47 players in 14-day quarantine
Three people across two chartered flights carrying the Open hopefuls tested positive for coronavirus upon their arrival in Melbourne.
-
Tennis News
Bernard Tomic still has drive to compete, saying ‘I don’t need to play tennis again, I’ve got enough money’
“I’m risking my life, and I’m playing and competing.”
-
Tennis News
Dominic Thiem: ‘My wish for 2021 is to win a second Grand Slam title’
Dominic Thiem eyes a second Grand Slam trophy.
-
Australian Open
VIDEO and PICS: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams among tennis stars to arrive in Australia
This way for a video and pics of arrivals in Australia.
-
Australian Open
Official insists no special Australian Open treatment for Andy Murray after positive COVID-19 result
Andy Murray warned he won’t get preferential treatment.
-
Australian Open
Madison Keys latest player to miss Australian Open charter flight after testing positive for coronavirus
Madison Keys unlikely to play at Australian Open.
-
Australian Open
Andy Murray in race against time to play at Australian Open after testing positive for COVID-19
Andy Murray tests positive for coronavirus – report.