Vika Victorious Over Ivanovic to Land Spot in Women’s Quarterfinals
On Day Nine action of the 2013 U.S. Open, it was the second-seeded Victoria Azarenka of Belarus rounding out the list quarterfinalists with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over the number 13 seed, Serbian Ana Ivanovic, a match re-scheduled after being washed out on Monday. Ivanovic yielded 42 unforced errors and bashed her racket on the ground at least once as each player struggled with consistency throughout. Up next for Azarenka in the quarterfinals is Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia, who advanced yesterday with a three-set 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 win over American Alison Riske. Azarenka is making her 11th career trip to a Grand Slam quarterfinal.
"I really tried to stick with the game plan and keep pushing her, but at the end it went to her," said Ivanovic.
Hantuchova and Azarenka have met four times over their careers, splitting the lifetime head-to-head at two wins apiece, most recently at the BNP Paribas Tennis Open Indian Wells in March. The two meet on Wednesday under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium, as Azarenka has just 24 hour to recover due to Monday’s rainout, while Hantuchova was able to get in her match on Monday.
Ivanovic and Azarenka combined for a total of 72 unforced errors Tuesday afternoon, 17 double faults and 16 service breaks, while Azarenka managed to win just seven of 26 second-serve points.
“Ana just came out firing and played amazing tennis in the first set,” said Azarenka. “I really had to wake up in the second set and fight for the points. I was really more determined, more focused.”
Credit all photos to Adam Wolfthal
Ana Ivanovic was denied a trip to the 2013 U.S. Open quarterfinals on Tuesday after a loss to the number two-seeded Victoria Azarenka
On Tuesday, Victoria Azarenka advanced to her 17th career Grand Slam quarterfinals appearance
