TWO-TIME Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka got more than she bargained for coming up against 18-year-old Australian wildcard Maya Joint, with the Belarusian former world number one needing three sets to shake off the fearless teenager at the Brisbane International.
Though the 10th seed is also a two-time Brisbane International winner, she was the one on the back foot in the opening set against the young Australian. While Joint did squander a number of set point opportunities, she showed fantastic composure to win the tiebreaker 7-5 and immediately gain the upper hand over her vastly more experienced opponent.
Though as Azarenka has done many times in her career before, she just kept grinding, and her experience and versatility in shot making stood out. Eventually she wore down Joint, and the inconsistency off the young Australian’s racquet started to show. It was a brave effort from a player ranked just outside the Top 100 coming off a breakout 2024 season, but Azarenka was simply too consistent for longer.
“I was so nervous before the match because I felt like everybody had already played and I hadn’t played my match,” Azarenka said post-match. “She already had a match under her belt. I felt there was a bit of rust trying to figure out after not playing for so much, getting into again, learning the momentums and what to do again in the right moments.
“I thought I fought really well today. I tried to execute my game, not everything worked but that’s okay. I hope to improve for the next match.”
The 35-year-old former world number one will take on Czech Marie Bouzkova in the third round, after winning the final three games of the deciding set against Joint having been a break down at 3-4. However Joint’s effort did not go unnoticed by the Grand Slam winner.
“If [Maya] plays like she plays tonight I think she has a pretty good future,” Azarenka said. “I need to have a few words with my coach because I’m not sure he gave me the best tactic at the beginning or maybe she just played very differently than what we watched [from] the first match.
“She’s a great player, a great talent, obviously very young.”
In other results, Queenslander Kimberly Birrell stunned second seeded American Emma Navarro in a massive upset on Pat Rafter Arena. The 113th ranked wildcard lost to Navarro in a 125 event last year, but learnt from that performance to run out a 7-5 7-5 winner in two hours and two minutes.
It was not a great day for the seeded players, with Ukranian duo Marta Kostyuk and Dayana Yastremska both falling in straight sets, as did Russian Liudmila Samsonova and Polish 11th seed Magdalena Frech. Russian duo Polina Kudermetova and Anastasia Potapova kept their runs going alongside Yue Yuan and Suzan Lamens, while third seed Daria Kasatkina needed an epic three-set win over Peyton Stearns. Czech 12th seed Linda Noskova was the other winner on Wednesday.
Victoria Azarenka, former world No. 1 and two-time Grand Slam champion, has once again shown her resilience on the tennis court. Despite battling joint pain in her knee, the Belarusian star managed to overcome the discomfort and secure a hard-fought victory.
Azarenka’s determination and mental toughness were on full display as she powered through the pain and showcased her impressive skills on the court. Her ability to push through adversity and continue to perform at a high level is a testament to her dedication and passion for the sport.
As a tennis rookie, I am inspired by Azarenka’s perseverance and tenacity. Her ability to overcome obstacles and continue to compete at the highest level is truly admirable. I look forward to following her journey and learning from her example as I continue to develop my own skills on the court.
Azarenka’s victory is a reminder that with hard work, determination, and a positive mindset, anything is possible. I am grateful for the opportunity to witness such a remarkable display of strength and resilience, and I am excited to see what the future holds for this incredible athlete.
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