Mutua Madrid Open 2019 Update: Sloane Stephens Battles Past Victoria Azarenka

The American, Sloane Stephens defeated Polona Hercog in her opening round at Mutua Madrid Open 2019 to set up her second round clash against Victoria Azarenka. The American defeated the former World Number one, Azarenka 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 in the second round of the Mutua Madrid Open 2019. 

The WTA women put up the show at Manolo Santana in Caja Magica. The ladies took off by clinging to the serves until the end of the first set and Stephens got an opportunity to break Azarenka’s serve.

The World Number eight, Stephans was leading 5-4 in the opening set and Azarenka was serving to stay in the first set. The two-time Australian Open champion held a 40-0 lead in the last game.

However, due to poor movement on clay, she happened to squander her game points with wide backhands and allowed the 2017 U.S. Open champion, Stephens, to seal the opening set 6-4. The game followed an incredible with Azarenka moving back and forth and but however, she netted the ball.

Unlike the first set, the second one witnessed a different scenario. With Azarenka breaking Stephen’s serve and later consolidated break to take a 3-1 lead in the second set and thereafter she was unstoppable and kept her presence in the Mutua Madrid Open 2019 alive by taking the second set 6-2. Also, Azarenka committed three consecutive double faults.

In the third set, Stephens produced some massive holds by saving break points. Azarenka was committing unforced errors whereas the American was refusing to be inaccurate with her tennis. Azarenka had and opportunity to lead by a break but she netted a volley on that point. Uplifting her game in the decider, Stephens held a 4-2 lead and consolidated by winning another game and closed out the set 6-2 by breaking Azarenka again. 

Before the second round meeting at Mutua Madrid Open 2019 today, their head-to-head count was 3-3 and the eight seed American, Stephens gathered all the three wins last year. Also, before the Mutua Madrid Open 2019, Stephens hired a new coach, Sven Groeneveld who previously coached Maria Sharapova.