Azarenka turns on heat
30 May 2013 12:42 AM GMT
A cacophony of noise on Chatrier Court signalled the belated appearance of women’s third seed Victoria Azarenka at the French Open on Wednesday as the Belarusian eased to the second round. The stadium was barely one third full as Azarenka went through her paces but the low decibel level from the crowd on another chilly day in Paris was countered by the grunts, howls and groans coming from the two players.
Azarenka just about won the noisy battle, although Russian Elena Vesnina ran her close, and she had little trouble winning the match either, going through 6-1, 6-4. Incredibly making her eighth main draw appearance at the French Open despite still being only 23, Azarenka had to wait until the fourth day to begin her challenge after rainy weather on Tuesday meant her first-round match was cancelled.
She now faces the prospect of seven matches in 11 days if she is to win the title. The twice Australian Open champion has never shone in Paris, with her best performance being quarterfinals in 2009 and 2011. She now faces Germany’s Annika Beck in the second round.
Radwanska out
Urszula Radwanska failed to follow up her victory over Venus Williams with another win at the French Open. By losing 6-3, 6-3 to German qualifier Dinah Pfizenmaier on Wednesday, the 40th-ranked also missed out on a chance to face her older sister, No. 4-seeded Agnieszka, in the third round. Urszula has never made it past second round in 13 appearances at Grand Slam tournaments.
Azarenka just about won the noisy battle, although Russian Elena Vesnina ran her close, and she had little trouble winning the match either, going through 6-1, 6-4. Incredibly making her eighth main draw appearance at the French Open despite still being only 23, Azarenka had to wait until the fourth day to begin her challenge after rainy weather on Tuesday meant her first-round match was cancelled.
She now faces the prospect of seven matches in 11 days if she is to win the title. The twice Australian Open champion has never shone in Paris, with her best performance being quarterfinals in 2009 and 2011. She now faces Germany’s Annika Beck in the second round.
Radwanska out
Urszula Radwanska failed to follow up her victory over Venus Williams with another win at the French Open. By losing 6-3, 6-3 to German qualifier Dinah Pfizenmaier on Wednesday, the 40th-ranked also missed out on a chance to face her older sister, No. 4-seeded Agnieszka, in the third round. Urszula has never made it past second round in 13 appearances at Grand Slam tournaments.
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