Three-time champion #VictoriaAzarenka started her #MiamiOpen campaign with a bang, defeating #DominikaCibulkova in a battle of former top-five players in the opening round of competition. The former world number one became the first ever winner in the Hard Rock Stadium, the new site of the tournament, as she battled past the Slovak in a hard-fought 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 encounter lasting two hours and 31-minutes.
Firing a massive 41 winners to just 29 unforced errors, Azarenka battled through a mid-match hiccup and was forced to return from a break down in the deciding set to triumph against a very tough first-round opponent, who played unbelievably well as well.
Cibulkova, who is 1-4 in WTA main draw matches this year, displayed some of her best tennis but fell short of the victory after some nerves towards the closing stages proved costly. Nonetheless, it is an encouraging performance for the world number 35 who managed to find 35 winners today as well.
Azarenka will next face 19th seed Caroline Garcia in the second round, and with her performance today, a deep run might ensue for the former champion as she continues to rise in the rankings and looks to defend her semifinal points from last year.
Azarenka strolls to take the one-sided opening frame
The first ever tennis point played in the Hard Rock Stadium was a thriller as both Azarenka and Cibulkova displayed some of their vintage baseline tennis, with the Slovakian ending the point with a huge forehand winner. It seemed like a high-quality match as both players were going for the winners and were performing at their highest level, bringing the fans an intriguing encounter. After some tussle in the opening game, it was the former world number one who found the breakthrough and broke serve with an impressive backhand return winner.
Azarenka maintained her high level as she fended off some tough challenge to hold serve and consolidate the break, with the help of an excellent second serve ace on her game point. The Belarusian had the golden opportunity to extend her lead with two break points in hand but failed to convert as Cibulkova displayed shades of excellence, finding wonderful backhands to get onto the scoreboard for the first time in the afternoon.
Azarenka was playing some of her best tennis while Cibulkova’s level certainly raised as compared to her previous matches where she was an unforced error machine. However, the two-time Australian Open champion was just too solid at the baseline, which is her fortress, and Cibulkova was just unable to consistently outlast her intensity and power during the majority of baseline rallies.
Yet another stunning return from Azarenka, who used to be known as the best returner on the WTA tour, helped her clinch a double-break advantage as she surged towards a commanding 5-2 lead against Cibulkova, someone whom she owned a 7-3 head-to-head record against. Serving for the set, Azarenka did not disappoint as she sent in consecutive unreturned serves to seal it 6-2 after just 43 minutes, losing just five points on serve.
Cibulkova fights back for a deciding set
Cibulkova started the second set in the best possible way, firing three winners to grab the confident service hold as she looked to shrug off the previous disappointment and extend the match into a deciding set. Taking advantage of a loose service game from her opponent, the Slovakian converted on her first break point in the match and took the lead for the first time as well.
The drop in intensity from Azarenka proved costly as Cibulkova looked comfortable with the lead, although the former world number one managed to claw her way back and find a break opportunity in the third game with some pinpoint backhands. Despite fighting her heart out, an unfortunate double-fault ultimately proved to be Cibulkova’s doom as she immediately handed the break back to Azarenka.
She may have lost her serve, but Cibulkova did not lose her cool. She continued to keep her composure and challenged Azarenka at the baseline and started to dictate play more often which allowed her to keep in touch on the scoreboard. Her hard work was finally rewarded as she grabbed the break once more, and this time she consolidated the break to take the second set 6-3 as Azarenka grew increasingly frustrated with her own errors.
Azarenka fights to grab the huge win
Azarenka looked determined to grab the win and took the initiative to be aggressive, heeding advice from her coach, Wim Fissette, during an on-court coaching session during the set changeover. Starting the decider with two impressive winners, the Belarusian proceeded to hold her serve and upped her intensity and level immediately, handing the pressure to Cibulkova.
Nonetheless, the former world number four and WTA Finals champion handled the pressure well, withstanding the aggression of Azarenka as she came up with some spectacular winners of her own to assert her authority across the stadium. Cibulkova earned the golden opportunity to take charge of the encounter but wasted two break points as Azarenka boasted her net skills and clutch serving to survive the tricky service game.
However, the break seemed imminent and it ultimately came in the fifth game. Cibulkova continued to apply the pressure and this time, despite serving two bombs to remain in contention, Azarenka’s second serves were brutally punished as the resurgent Slovak grabbed the lead in the decider, putting herself in the pole position to close out the match.
Unexpectedly, there turned out to be more in the bag for us. Azarenka found some of her world-class returns and broke straight back, overcoming her frustration and finding the winners. Being aggressive on the returns, Azarenka turned the tides and claimed her third consecutive game as Cibulkova gifted her two free double-faults, allowing her to serve for the match.
The 2016 WTA Finals champion earned a break point at the eleventh hour but blew a huge chance as she sent a simple second serve return way beyond the baseline. Another opportunity came but this time yet another solid first serve saved Azarenka from the brink. However, the Belarusian just could not close out the match as a series of unforced errors brought Cibulkova straight back into the match.
Just when you thought Cibulkova was back in contention — she threw herself out of contention with a double-fault at 30-15 up as it completely messed up her rhythm and confidence. Azarenka produced a stunner of a return at 30-30, before finally closing out the hard-fought win after two hours and 31-minutes of action.
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