Queens, NY—-Victoria Azarenka, seeded 18th, commenced her 16th US Open campaign with an impressive straight-sets victory against wildcard Fiona Ferro at Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Despite wrapping up the first-round match in just over an hour, Azarenka’s 6-1, 6-2 win proved to be a physical battle, especially in the opening set, despite the seemingly comfortable scoreline.
In their inaugural encounter, both players engaged in a tactical duel, exchanging breaks of serve in their initial service games of the first set. However, Azarenka swiftly took control, consistently breaking Ferro’s serve until late in the second set. Despite Azarenka’s dominance, the resilient 27-year-old Frenchwoman challenged her opponent in every service game, engaging in lengthy rallies and managing to break serve twice, once in each set.
Ferro, buoyed by her recent success in reaching the WTA 125 final in Barranquilla, showcased confidence early on. Employing a varied strategy that included drop shots and net approaches, Ferro attempted to unsettle the two-time Australian Open champion. Despite her efforts, Azarenka’s superior power, focus, and experience ultimately proved insurmountable for Ferro.
What it Means:
This favorable section of the draw sets up well for Azarenka as she pursues her maiden US Open title. The three-time runner-up will next face either Zhu Lin or Mayar Sherif in the second round, with a potential Round 3 encounter against 15th seed Belinda Bencic looming. Azarenka’s 16th appearance at the US Open places her third among players in this year’s draw, trailing only Venus Williams (24) and Alizé Cornet (17). Additionally, she is among the 10 moms competing in this year’s tournament.
