The two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka qualified for the fourth round of AO 2022, giving only two games to 16th-seeded Ukrainian player Elina Svitolina. The 24th-seeded Belarusian won the match with 2-0 (6:0, 6:2) for only 68 minutes. The Ukrainian did not offer any resistance in the first set and when she started to play better, it was too late.
Victoria Azarenka made 17 winners and made 9 unforced errors. She was almost perfect on the net and did not allow Elina Svitolina to make a single break, although the Ukrainian had 4 opportunities.
“I love playing in Australia and I’m glad to be here. Elina is very combative, so I wanted to lead the game. I think I fulfilled my tactical plan well”, said Victoria Azarenka after the victory.
Her next opponent will be Barbora Krejcikova. The 2021 French Open / Roland Garros champion turned over the Latvian player Jelena Ostapenko, winning the match with 2-1 (2:6, 6:4, 6:4). The fourth-seeded Czech lagged behind with a set and a break in the second, but showed a strong mentality and won the match.
“It was really very difficult, but I am proud that I managed to win. I proved that I never give up and that makes me happy”, said Barbora Krejcikova.
The fifth-seeded Maria Sakkari defeated Veronika Kudermetova with 2-0 (6:4, 6:1) and in the fourth round will face Jessica Pegula. The American tennis player had difficulties against Nuria Parrizas-Diaz only in the first set and won by 2-0 (7:6, 6:2).
