Azarenka Wins Kvitova Showdown in Toronto
Victoria Azarenka rolled past third-seeded Czech Petra Kvitova 6-2, 6-3 on Wednesday, notching her first win over a top four player since 2013.
Azarenka came out firing against Kvitova, building a hefty 6-2, 4-1 lead. After Kvitova trimmed that lead to 3-4, Azarenka rattled off the next two games to close out the fourth-ranked player in the world in one hour and 28 minutes.
“It feels good to have that level of consistency I showed today throughout the whole match,” said the former world number one. “To play against a top player and have that level, it’s definitely something I want to get more and more of, especially before a tournament like the U.S. Open.”
Azarenka will play Italian Sara Errani next. The 15th seed Errani ousted American Madison Brengle 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 on Wednesday.
Swiss teenager Belinda Bencic nailed down an upset of her own on Wednesday, downing fourth-seeded Dane Caroline Wozniacki in straight sets 7-5, 7-5. Late breaks in each set allowed Bencic to move past Wozniacki and into the third-round.
“It’s two great wins for me in two days,” said Bencic, who beat Eugenie Bouchard the day before. “I feel really good here in Toronto. I like it very much. I hoped it would be a good tournament—it already is, but I hope it can be even better.”
She will look to continue her run when she meets big-serving German Sabine Lisicki, who beat Barbora Strycova 7-6(3), 6-4.
Second-seed Simona Halep rolled past Jelena Jankovic 6-3, 6-4 to advance. The Romanian converted the only two break points of the match, saving all three that she faced.
“My serve was pretty good today,” said Halep. “I tried to be aggressive and take the ball as soon as possible, because I know she has good defense.
I knew I had to make her run a lot, open the court and finish the points when I could.”
Halep will play 13th seeded German Angelique Kerber next. Kerber took down Puerto Rico’s Monica Puig 6-2, 6-3.
Fifth-seed Ana Ivanovic, sixth-seed Agnieszka Radwanska and 16th seed Andrea Petkovic were all winners on Wednesday, while seventh-seed Lucie Safarova, eighth-seed Garbine Muguruza and 11th seed Ekaterina Makarova were all eliminated.
