Former world number one Victoria Azarenka defeated Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands to go to the second round of the Dubai Tennis Championships, where she will face Elena Rybakina.
Regarding her performance in the previous tournament, the Belarusian tennis star claimed that she values her Doha encounter with Iga Swiatek, in which she faced defeat after beating the likes of Magdalena Frech, Wang Xinyu, and Jelena Ostapenko to reach the quarterfinals at the Qatar Open.
Azarenka broke in the first game of her match against Swiatek, but she quickly squandered the lead as she broke again to tie the score. Swiatek saved a break point, held serve, and broke in the following game to take the lead in the eighth game of the first set. She later served out the set and took the lead in Doha.
The Polish tennis star stepped up her game in the second set, winning all four games to win 6-4, 6-0, her 11th consecutive tournament victory.
Azarenka noted that the match against Swiatek helped her understand how she stacked up against the WTA tour’s top-ranked player. She also stated that she is usually optimistic about her chances against Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina.
“Sometimes when you play these big matches, the expectation rises, that it’s going to be something incredible. For me it was very important to play against Iga in Doha. I wish I was physically a bit more ready, but I kind of understand how I can match against her. A match against Aryna, a match against Elena, I always have chances,” the 34-year-old told the WTA.
“For me, it is to be able to find that key where I make those right or better choices in those moments. And then we’ll see. But I will definitely try my best to figure those things out. It’s a great challenge. I’m looking forward to that every time. The challenge excites me,” she added.
