Victoria Azarenka who frustratingly lost her World Number 1 ranking after just 19 weeks has produced an impeccable performance at Wimbledon demonstrating her determination to regain her place at the top.
Destroying rival Maria Sharapova in the Australian Open final earlier this year rewarded the Minsk Number 1 seed; making the history books as the highest ranked Belarusian. However, after a surprising defeat in the fourth round of the French Open in June, Azarenka returned the title to Sharapova, but evidencing from her on-court demeanour at Wimbledon, she wants it back.
Her 2012 Wimbledon tournament has seen her face Falconi, Oprandi and Cepelova and with a poised and composed performance she effortlessly beat them in straight sets taking her into the fourth round to go head to head with Ana Ivanovic today.
Azarenka attained a strong start, securing the first set, 6-1. She continued to dominate throughout the second set and Ivanovic supporters watched agonisingly as their Serbian idol struggled to cope with the Belarusian’s patient style of play, dynamic shots, and rhythm. It was obvious as the second set proceeded Ivanovic’s confidence had been brutally dented; she was unable to secure a game.
In just one hour and one minute, Azarenka shrieked her way into the quarter finals where she is due to face Tamira Paszek sometime this week. So far Azarenka’s Wimbledon experience has seen her in untouchable form and it seems her bitter defeat in the French Open is long forgotten. With the women’s single number 1 seed Sharapova making a premature departure from the tournament today at the hands of Sabine Lisicki both titles; Wimbledon and World Number 1 look well within Azarenka’s grasp.