Victoria Azarenka narrowly avoids disaster against Baptiste, wins in 3

It was a proper roller coaster of a match between Azarenka and Baptiste with the native American pushing Vika to the limits. When the match started Vika dominated play and it seemed like this would be a routine win for her. She took a 3-0 lead and held it for the rest of the set simply outplaying Baptiste with more consistent baseline play.

Azarenka kept applying pressure early in the 2nd set but Baptiste was able to handle it fairly well. The American raised her level across the board both from the baseline and serving which allowed her to stay in the match. Baptiste saved early break points and after that played even better. Eventually the American got her first break point late in the set and she converted it.

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It was a set point as well and it closed it out 6-4 to Baptiste. Carried by that momentum Baptiste was able to quickly jump out to a 3-0 lead coming fairly close to a huge upset win. Azarenka eventually found a way to come back into the match after some cheap errors by Baptiste 3-3. Vika went on to play well especially from the baseline forcing Baptiste to overhit shots which she did.

Eventually, she reeled off a 3-0 run to close out the final set with 6-3 and match 2-1. A great comeback win for Azarenka who won six games in a row avoiding disaster of losing to firmly ranked outside of the top 100. She faces Muguruza next.

José Morgado

@josemorgado

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Vika wins from 0-3 down in the 3rd! Day over in Chicago

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