WTA: St. Petersburg Ladies Cup – Victoria Azarenka VS Margarita Gasparyan 6-4 6-1
Victoria Azarenka defeated Margarite Gasparyan in an hour and a half, in a match up closer than the score suggests, to advance to the Round of 16 in the 2019 St. Petersburg Ladies Cup.
Azarenka came into the tournament having not won a Singles match in 2019, whereas Gasparyan came in off winning her last three matches, all be it against opponent nowhere near the level of Azarenka. The two had only face off once before, in 2016, where Azarenka came out on top in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3.
Azarenka claimed the first break in the first set as she started the brighter of the two players. What followed was a series of impressive breaks form both Azarenka and Gasparyan. The games though were full of unforced errors with both finishing with four double faults each. After the string of breaks came to an end, it was the ninth game when Azarenka took her grip on the match. Gasparyan served a double fault to give Azarenka the chance to serve for the first set, which she dually obliged.
Azarenka carried that momentum into the second set going 3-0 up despite the effort from Gasparyan who kept it close during the games. Gasparyan gave herself a glimmer of hope, breaking Azarenka in the fourth game after missing a total of four break points within the game, but it was not to make a difference as Gasparyan threw away points constantly making it rather comfortable for Azarenka to return everything thrown at her and take her first win of 2019. Azarenka will now go into the Round of 16 where she will face World Number Two Petra Kvitova.
Errors Galore
Both players struggled with unforced errors and both players made four double faults a piece. Gasparyan struggled the most with errors allowing Azarenka to take control after many first service mistakes, Gasparyan even gave away a break on a double fault. Azarenka also struggled with errors but slowly worked them out of her game to come through and win the match.
Key Moments
Azarenka VS Gasparyan 2-1
Break - Azarenka grows into the game and has forced Gasparyan into some long rallies, not allowing her to use her strong first serve the way she wants, takes the game after a Double-Fault.
Azarenka VS Gasparyan 5-4
Break - Another monumental Deuce, with some quite brilliant back hands from both athletes, Gasparyan serves a Double-Fault. Errors costing both players but Azarenka looking the stronger and most composed of the two.
Azarenka VS Gasparyan 6-4
Set - Azarenka takes the last game easily to take the first set and put herself in a controlling position after struggling early on. Mistakes from both players being the story of the first set.
Azarenka VS Gasparyan 6-4 1-0
Break - Azarenka takes the momentum into the second set braking Gasparyan straight away without conceding a point.
Azarenka VS Gasparyan 6-4 3-0
Break - After a long long deuce, precisely 9 of them, littered with break points, Azarenka takes it to open up a 3 game lead. Its a long way for the Gasparyan to come back now.
Azarenka VS Gasparyan 6-4 5-1
Azarenka hold her serve in comfortable fashion with some strong forearms and serves to get closer to the win. All the pressure on Gasparyan now.
Azarenka VS Gasparyan 6-4 6-2
Game, Set, Match - Azarenka wins it after a valiant effort from Gasparyan to extend the game. the scoreline does not tell the story but non the less Azarenka takes her first win of 2019 in an hour and a half and will now face world number 2 Kvitova in the Round of 16.
