Slovenia’s Tamara Zidansek cruised past former world number 1 and two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka 6-2 6-2 after 67 minutes to move into the second round of the Abierto GNP Seguros in Monterrey.
Azarenka made her season debut after missing all tournaments since the 2019 US Open tournament, where she lost to her compatriot Aryna Sabalenka in the first round.
Zidansek reached the first final of her career in Nurnberg last year and the quarter final in Acapulco last week. Zidansek earned two consecutive breaks in the fourth and sixth games to race out to a 5-1 lead.
Azarenka fended off a set point and pulled one breaks back for 2-5. Zidansek broke straight back to seal the opening set 6-2.
Zidansek earned an early break in the second game to open up a 3-0 lead and held on her serve to 5-2 lead. As Azarenka was serving to stay in the match, Zidansek earned a match point and converted on it with a break with a backhand volley.
Zidansek will face either Anastasia Potapova or Giulia Gatto Monticone.
“I worked really hard in the off-season, and it feels like it’s all starting to click now. I have been feeling amazing in Mexico. It’s definitely starting to click now. It’s definitely a mix of the two together”, said Zidansek.
Number 1 seed Elina Svitolina eased past Danka Kovinic 6-3 6-2. The Ukrainian player hit 83% of her first serve points and never faced a break point. She converted three of her six break points.
Svitolina started the first set with a hold of serve before breaking serve to open up a 2-0 lead with a forehand winner. She held serve to race out to a 3-0 lead. Svitolina went down 15-30 on serve in the fifth and seventh games, but she held serve with aces without facing break points. Kovinic held serve for 3-5, as Svitolina made a forehand error, forcing the Ukrainian player to serve for the set. Svitolina converted on her set point with her sixth ace.
Svitolina brought up three break points at 1-1. Kovinic saved the first two break points, but Svitolina converted on her third chance, as Kovinic fired a backhand into the net. Svitolina held two service games before breaking serve to open up a 5-2 lead, after coming back from 15-40 down. As Svitolina was serving for the match in the next game, she earned a match point with a forehand winner. She converted on her chance, as she forced a long return from Kovinic with a second serve.
Svitolina set up a second round match against Olga Govortsova, who beat US lucky loser Caroline Dolehide.
