Comeback queen Victoria Azarenka won her battle of the former No 1s with Caroline Wozniacki on Thursday to dance her way into the Australian Open third round.
The Belarussian, a two-time Australian champion who is returning from injury, again showed why she is the most dangerous unseeded player at this year’s tournament when she upset the eighth seeded Wozniacki from Denmark 6-4, 6-2.
After completing the hard-fought victory in 1hr 38min, Azarenka showed off her dance moves to the Melbourne Park crowd.
“I really tried to stay focused and tried to take my opportunities,” said the 25-year-old, who battled injuries and depression in 2014, entering this year’s tournament ranked 44 in the world.
“It’s really satisfying to be able to play again.
“I just love to dance ... I just might as well enjoy myself on the court.”
There was little to celebrate for Wozniacki, who slumped to her worst ever performance at Melbourne Park after reaching the semi-finals in 2011. She had never exited before the third round in seven previous campaigns.
On paper, the showdown between two former world No 1s was worthy of a place at the business end of a grand slam.
In reality, the intensity on display lived up to the billing but it was an error-strewn display from both players in humid conditions, with Azarenka eventually prevailing in a war of attrition.
She will now meet Czech 25th seed Barbora Zahlavova Strycova in the third round and is on course to face top seed Serena Williams in the quarter-finals.
Wozniacki said before the match that Azarenka was one of her best friends on tour, but the Belarussian showed no sentiment as she went after the Dane’s serve, dominating with two early breaks.
Azarenka also displayed no sign of the foot injuries that wrecked her 2014 season, repeatedly darting into the net and throwing herself at returns with abandon.
Reeling from the early onslaught, Wozniacki fought back with two breaks of her own as the first set turned into an arm wrestle.
The turning point came in the ninth game, which went to deuce four times before Azarenka claimed yet another break with a forehand down the line, going on the serve out the set after 58 minutes.
Azarenka took an early break in the second and held onto the advantage to seal the victory.
In some of Thursday’s other action, world No 4 Petra Kvitova cruised in straight sets past Mona Barthel of Germany, and 2014 Australian Open semi-finalist Dominika Cibulkova, the world No 10, defeated Tsvetana Pironkova 6-2, 6-0.
Sixth seed Agnieszka Radwanska had no trouble with Johanna Larsson, moving on to face Varvara Lepchenko, herself a straight sets winner over Ajla Tomljanovic.
Both Venus and Serena Williams were comfortable winners, as well. Timea Bacsinszky, Camila Giorgi, Elina Svitolina, Alize Cornet, Madison Keys and Madison Brengle also advanced to the third round.
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