Azarenka Loses Opener for Second Time in a Week as Petkovic Prevails in First Round of China Open
September 30, 2013 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal
Andrea Petkovic defeated world number two Victoria Azarenka in the first round of the China Open on Monday, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. In 2011, Petkovic advanced to the finals of the China Open, but could only secure the runner-up spot, falling to eventual winner Agnieszka Radwanska. Next up for Petkovic in round two is Svetlana Kuznetsova. Kuznetsova, a 6-1, 6-1 straight sets winner over Hsieh Su-Wei. Kuznetsova and Petkovic are tied in their head-to-head series at two wins apiece.
"I always play really well here," Petkovic said. "I lost in the first round here last year but I was playing Jelena Jankovic, who was playing really well that day. I really like the courts—I really like the atmosphere and center court. I don’t know, it’s just a tournament that goes with my play somehow!"
This is the second first round loss for Azarenka in a week, losing at last week’s Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo to Venus Williams in her opener.
"It was an awful match and a very bad performance from me, so there’s not much to say about it," said Azarenka. "It happens once, twice a year to every player, and it happened to me today. It’s my mistake for not paying enough attention after the U.S. Open how I managed my time and managed my health."
