Azarenka advances in Dubai with marathon win

Victoria Azarenka needed three hours and four match points on Monday to claim only her second win of the season as the former No. 1 defeated Anhelina Kalinina 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4.

The first-round win in Dubai broke a three-match losing streak dating to Brisbane on January 2, with the two-time Australian Open winner also beaten in Melbourne at the Open and last month in Doha.

The 35-year-old who paved the way for tennis mothers returning to action a decade ago, erased deficits in the second and third set after losing the opening to her Ukrainian opponent.

No. 30 Azarenka, who lost the Dubai final a decade and a half ago to Venus Williams at the Aviation Club, recovered from 3-1 down in the second set to win it and square the match.

She then did the same in the deciding third, fighting back from a double break down and breaking her 50th-ranked opponent’s last two serves to advance on her fourth chance.

“I guess my fighting spirit really helped me to pull through,” Azarenka said.

“I had to find the way to get a little bit of consistency, play better, find the rhythm and execute properly.

“But it was a bit rough out there.”

The former Grand Slam champion admitted she is going through a difficult spell.

“I’ve been really struggling to find just my game at all.

“It feels just like my legs become heavy. I feel like I’m not making right decisions, even though in practice I play good sets.

“Today at least it’s a good thing that I was able to really compete. I would say that’s what saved me today.”

 Azarenka is looking for her first title since 2020 Cincinnati; 20 of her 21 career trophies have come on hardcourts.

She will become the first opponent of the week for second seed Iga Swiatek, who has won the last three of their four career meetings. 

In other opening results, only 48 hours after winning the Doha title, Amanda Anisimova was ushered out in Dubai, losing 6-2, -3 to American McCarthy Kessler.