Rejuvenated Azarenka reprises Oz success with win over Wozniacki

The headline writes itself: “Vintage Vika”. Victoria Azarenka, champion at the Australian Open in 2012 and 2013, did indeed look like her old self throughout her 6-4, 6-2 win over the resurgent Caroline Wozniacki. She was the superior player along the baseline, but was always looking for ways to end, rather than extend, the rallies she handled so well. She pounced on short balls. She was a markswoman, catching lines and finding north-south openings in a game dominated by east-west play. Absent for much of 2014, it was good to see her back and at her best.

But that might be too simple a verdict after two rounds of play in which Azarenka defeated former semifinalist Sloane Stephens and a former No. 1. Because, really, we’re watching a new Vika now. She spoke at length about her mid-career transformation to the esteemed Christopher Clarey in The New York Times before the tournament, and she’s walked the walk in Melbourne thus far, exhibiting a palpable joy to be back. “It’s just satisfying to be able to play,” said Azarenka on ESPN2 after her win. “My mindset is to try to enjoy every moment.”

It doesn’t hurt to not only be playing, but to be playing well, which is exactly what Azarenka did during this marquee second-rounder. She shined the brightest with her shotmaking, and would have even had she worn something drab and grey instead of an outfit with the intensity of a thousand highlighters.

The Belarusian won the first three games of the contest, two by breaking Wozniacki’s serve, then recovered in spite of losing that large lead. Considering the two players’ adequate-but-not-amazing serves, a double-break advantage was hardly insurmountable, but Azarenka must have felt vulnerable after hitting five straight unforced errors from 4-3, 40-0. But she did her best Taylor Swift, shaking it off and winning eight of the next 10 games.

“I really tried to take my opportunities,” said Azarenka. “I took my chances even though sometimes i was missing them.”

I bring up that entertainer for another reason: Azarenka seemed to have more crowd support than she ever did as champion at this event. It was a stark departure from the lukewarm receptions and tepid applause—at the best of times—that surrounded Azarenka during her reign. Today, there were no derisive yells about her own yells, just admiration for a brilliant performance against a sentimental favorite in Wozniacki. Vika even did a little dance after her victory. Although maybe she was just making up for odd habit of sticking out her posterior after misses:

The frequent pose inspired this gem, from the world-feed commentator: “Seems like she blames her butt every time something goes wrong.”

Call it the butt stumble?

Much more went wrong for Wozniacki on this particular evening. Her tendency to stay rooted on the baseline was a detriment against her largely in-form opponent, and she seemed a step slow in comparison. Invariably, she let Azarenka decide the outcomes of points. Wozniacki also had tremendous trouble holding serve; she was broken five times and won just six of 19 second-serve points.

One of those lost points came down 2-4, 0-40 in the second set, with no margin for error. Coming off a run of successful points, Azarenka teed off with her backhand, lancing a return winner that gave her a second double-break lead in the match—one she wouldn't relinquish. In this respect, it was vintage Wozniacki, which has not always been a good thing.

With 31 winners and an 81 percent conversion rate on net points (21 of 26), Azarenka dusted off the type of tennis that’s proven to be successful on these azure hard courts. But I suspect that even if she stumbles in her difficult quarter of the draw—the dangerous but erratic Barbora Zahlavova Strycova is next; Serena Williams is a likely quarterfinal opponent—Azarenka will deem this Australian Open a success. “Keep a positive mind,” she reiterated in her post-match chat.

It was hard not to be, after this showing.