Azarenka claims default W&S Open title after hamstrung Osaka withdraws
TWO-time Grand Slam winner Victoria Azarenka has won the easiest final of her long and illustrious career – defeating Naomi Osaka without having to put a foot on court – at the 2020 Western & Southern Open. It was the first time the Belarusian had claimed a WTA Tour title, announced victor in the Premier 5 event after Osaka was forced to withdraw from the final due to hamstring issues.
No one could say Azarenka did not earn the title however, with the world number 59 only dropping one set on the way to the title.
“I think it’s unfortunate, because I was actually really looking forward to compete against Naomi,” Azarenka told press via video chat. “ “It would have been an amazing opportunity to face her level, and she’s been playing really great. I lost to her last time that we played, so I was really looking forward to that.
“And playing the final is always really special… I just have to accept what it is. “I would have loved to have played, but, you know, I played five really good matches this week, and I think I deserve to be where I am today.”
It was Azarenka’s first tournament of the year after sitting out the summer and then having been delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and she made it count with wins over the red-hot Ons Jabeur and top eight seed Johanna Konta, as well as wins over Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia and Alize Cornet, following a Round of 64 upset over 15th seed Donna Vekic. It was the first time since this corresponding tournament last year that Azarenka had claimed a win in singles. Now she looks ahead to the US Open starting tomorrow.
“I’m excited to go out there and play,” Azarenka said. “My confidence level, I don’t think it changed just based on the result that I won here. “I felt pretty confident in my work that I have been doing.
“So the result is just confirmation that what I have been doing is right, but going on the court, I have been pretty confident in my abilities. “It’s just putting those things together now. It shows that it’s the right work that I have been doing.”
Azarenka begins her Round of 128 match at Flushing Meadows on Tuesday, facing off against Dutchwoman, Barbara Haas.
Picture: Getty Images
Osaka eases into Madrid second round
JAPANESE Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka made it through to the second round of the 2024 Madrid Open overnight with a dominant 79-minute win over Belgian lucky loser, Greet Minnen. The former world number one is still returning to the WTA Tour, but gained her first clay court win in two years at the WTA […]
Wildcard Eala upsets former top 30 player in Madrid
SHE might be her nation’s only ranked player, but Phillipines’ Alexandra Eala showed she can punch above her weight with the world number 170 getting the job done against former top 30 player, Lesia Tsurenko, at the Madrid Open. The 18-year-old talent came back from a set down on Arantxa Sanchez Stadium to post a […]
2024 ATP Madrid Open preview
SPANISH star Carlos Alcaraz returns to his home country to defend his 2023 ATP Madrid Open title when the 1000 Masters tournament begins tomorrow. The second seed defeated German Jan-Lennard Struff in the final last season, while this tournament also marks the return of Rafael Nadal back to the event as some of the best […]
2024 WTA Madrid Open preview
CLAY court season is well underway and it is time for another combined 1000 event between the WTA and ATP Tours, with the world’s best players descending on Spain for the Madrid Open. The clay court event features 96 players in the women’s singles draw, with the 32 seeded players receiving a bye in the […]
Aussies among 2024 BJK Cup finalists
AUSTRALIA will contest the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup Finals after the green and gold whitewashed Mexico in the Qualifiers to reach the 16-team event. The Aussies won 4-0 over their Central American opponents in a result that came as no surprise considering the relative ranking difference between the nations. Aside from Arina Rodionova getting […]
Tsitsipas’ triple treat in Monte Carlo
GREEK star Stefanos Tsitsipas has won his third Monte Carlo Masters, getting past fellow clay court talent Casper Ruud in the final. The decider on Court Rainier III lasted 97 minutes, with the 12th seed winning 6-1 6-4 over the eighth seeded Norwegian, adding the 2024 title to his back-to-back 2021-22 trophies. It is an […]
Monte Carlo madness: Top two ousted in semis
CLAY courts can tend to throw up some big results, and that was certainly the case in the semi-final stage of the 2024 Monte Carlo Masters. With the top two in the world, Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner heading for a memorable final, many expected the pair to face-off in the decider. The only problem? […]
Djoker quells Demon to reach Monte Carlo semis
WORLD number one Novak Djokovic proved that bit too strong for Australian Alex de Minaur, getting home in a tight two-set match at the Monte Carlo Masters. While just a couple of breaks throughout the course of the match separated the players, Djokovic was able to move to within two victories of a third clean […]
Rune wins Dimitrov slog to reach Monte Carlo quarters
WHEN you had to play your Round of 32 match earlier in the day following rain suspension from the previous day, the last thing you want is an epic struggle, but that was exactly the case for Dane Holger Rune who needed three and half hours to get past Grigor Dimitrov and reach the Monte […]
[…] Grand Slam final in seven years, while Osaka returns to the scene of her first Grand Slam victory. The duo were meant to have played in the Western and Southern Open Final just over a week ago before Osaka was forced to withdraw with a hamstring issue, making this match an intriguing one […]