Azarenka routs Svitolina 6-0, 6-2 to reach round of 16 at Australian Open

Both have reached the upper echelons of the sport: Victoria Azarenka achieved the #1 ranking in 2012 while Elina Svitolina reached #3 in 2017. Azarenka from Belarus, has had enormous success down under winning the title consecutively in 2012 & 2013. Svitolina from Ukraine, has reached the quarters twice (2018, 2019).

Azarenka came exceedingly close to winning her third grand slam title in 2020 at the US Open (l. to Osaka) while Svitolina is still searching for that elusive first major championship. Azarenka led the head-to-head 4-0 having last triumphed last fall in the quarters in Doha.

Azarenka won the toss and elected to receive. Svitolina opened with a well-struck serve up the tee but ended with a double fault to drop serve. Azarenka gifted her opponent a double fault but consolidated the break when Svitolina whiffed a forehand swing volley.

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Svitolina continued to labor on serve, opening the third with a double fault and dumped serve following a fantastic forehand down the line from Azarenka. The former world #1 consolidated the break and her grip on the match by holding at love for a 4-0 lead. Svitolina missed 5/6 first serves including another double fault and dropped serve when Azarenka ripped the backhand return.

The two-time Aussie Open champ played with controlled aggression eliciting multiple errors from Svitolina and secured the set 6-0 in twenty-five minutes when her opponent’s backhand went wide.

Svitolina served first in the second and continued to struggle, dropping serve for the fourth time. Azarenka poised and determined, continued to strike the ball with authority including two aces to consolidate the break. Svitolina finally got on the board crushing a backhand and forehand crosscourt on consecutive points to hold at love for 1-2.

Azarenka failed to adjust to her opponent’s slice and faced break point yet held after Svitolina overcooked two backhands on consecutive points. The twenty-seven-year-old from Ukraine won two consecutive points with serve plus one and held to 15 for 2-3.

Azarenka dialed-in on serve, struck her third ace, and held at love for 4-2. Svitolina committed too many unforced errors and was running out of time. She quickly faced triple break point and dropped serve following an exquisite lob from Azarenka.

The Belarusian served for the match, but it was far from routine. Seemingly out of nowhere, Svitolina found acute angles and the sidelines. The most competitive game was the last game but for Svitolina, it was too little too late. Although Azarenka faced seven deuce and three break points, she could not be broken.

She battled yet remained composed despite the onslaught from her opponent. Azarenka was determined to shut the door and after 67 minutes, found herself in the fourth round for the first time since 2016.

It was a stellar performance from the thirty-two-year-old. She served exceptionally well winning 76% of first and 58% of second serve points. She saved the four break points she faced and converted 5/7. She dictated play from the baseline and was equally effective at net.

She awaits the winner of the battle of the French Open champions: Barbora Krejcikova (2021) or Jelena Ostapenko (2017). Azarenka maintains winning records over both including a three-set win over Ostapenko at Indian Wells last fall. I like her chances against either opponent given her level of play today and her insatiable appetite for victory.