In a clash of two former Australian Open champions, Victoria Azarenka prevailed against Sofia Kenin 6-4 7-6(3) in the first round at Melbourne Park.
The 2020 Australian Open winner Kenin opened the match with a love hold and worked her way to a 3-0 lead after converting her fifth break point in a long second game. The 24th-seeded Azarenka took off her Nike Women’s Spring Slam Skirt to stay just in a bodysuit and started a winning series of five games. The Belarusian, who triumphed at the Aussie Open in 2012 and 2013, eventually took the first set, fighting off a late challenge from her opponent.
The second set was without breaks, but Kenin had a big chance to force a decider as she had a set point at 6-5 on Azarenka’s serve. The American was forced into an error in that crucial moment and Azarenka took the match to a tiebreak. The two-time Grand Slam champion started the tiebreak with a 2-0 deficit, but eventually dominated and clinched victory on her first match point.
