Azarenka Bounced in Brisbane Opener

Former world number one Victoria Azarenka started her 2015 campaign in disappointing fashion on Monday, falling to the Czech Republic’s Karolina Pliskova 6-4, 6-7(7), 4-6 in the first-round of the Brisbane International.

A two-time champion at the Australian Open, Azarenka has had much success in the country to start her season in years past. However, she is still struggling to regain her form after injuries took away about half of her 2014 season.

Playing in her first match since September, Azarenka was dealt a difficult first-round opponent in 23rd ranked Pliskova. Things looked to be going the Belarus’ way in the opening set as she raced out to a 5-1 lead. Even though she would go on to win the set, Pliskova was able to break and won three straight games to get her back into rhythm.

Things began to unravel in the second set for Azarenka. The 47th ranked player in the world would fumble two match point opportunities, failing to put Pliskova away in straight sets. Her serve looked rusty, serving up nine double faults as part of her 44 unforced errors. Pliskova had three double-faults of her own, but was able to smash nine aces to win important points on her serve.

Pliskova now moves into the second-round and will take on Russia’s Alla Kudryavtseva. The 100th ranked player in the world cruised past American Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-4, 6-2 on Monday.

Germany’s Sabine Lisicki forced Kazakhstan’s Yaroslava Shvedova into a first-set bagel before Shvedova stormed back to pull off the 0-6, 7-5, 6-4 upset. Shvedova now moves into the second-round and will take on the top-seeded Maria Sharapova.

Third-seeded Angelique Kerber faced no problems in her Brisbane opener, rolling past France’s Caroline Garcia 6-4, 6-3 to push into the second-round. She will meet Russia’s Daria Gavrilova who knocked off American Alison Riske.

American Madison Brengle won her first match of 2015, getting past Ukraine’s Lesya Tsurneko 7-6(6), 6-3.

On the men’s side of the draw, a pair of top 10 seeds from France were bounced in the tournament’s opening round. Sixth-seeded Gilles Simon was routed by Australia’s James Duckworth 6-2, 6-2, while Australian teenager Thanasi Kokkinakis knocked out eighth-seeded Julien Benneteau with a 6-4, 6-3 victory.

American Sam Querrrey began his 2015 campaign with a disappointing effort against Australian Bernard Tomic, falling to the 22-year old 5-7, 6-7(5). Tomic will meet Kokkinakis next.