Cincinnati (US) on August 18 : Just 24 hours after securing an opening-round victory over the 23-time Grand Slam champion Williams, Raducanu returned to the court to take on another former World No.1 in Victoria Azarenka, and was just as dominant.She lost only two games in the 7-0, 6-2 win which lasted only two hours to reach Round 3. Raducanu knocks out Serena in the opening round in Cincinnati
Azarenka hasn’t been double bagged in her professional life and she was able to avoid the danger after she lost her initial 10 games.Azarenka had not lost even a single bagels set in 2022, in fact, having previously been bagged by Ashleigh Barty in a defeat of 6-0, 6-2 in the year 2000 in Cincinnati.
The victory over the World No.22 Azarenka is Raducanu’s first victory over an Top 30 player since she won the US Open last summer.
After winning the final seven games against Williams on Tuesday night, Raducanu’s explosive form was evident early against another major winner in Azarenka.
Within less than 30 minutes she delivered her second straight set of bagel of the tournament.Two of her three games of service, however they were longer than deuce.
At 1-1, she saved the only break point she was faced with in the opening set.
Azarenka was awarded one game point on serve in the initial match of the second set, but Raducanu won 11 consecutive points.The Brit only gave up two points in her initial three games of service of the second set.She then took advantage of a 15-40 deficit to beat the match.
Raducanu hit 18 winners to Azarenka’s 10 He was 5-for-6 on break points and scored five Aces.
Raducanu will next play U.S.No.1 Jessica Pegula, the No.7 seed and the world No.8 She had an entirely different route to Round 3.
After losing the first set to Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk in a tiebreak, Pegula cruised to make an impressive victory, 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-1.
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