WTA Stuttgart, Germany

Azarenka rallies to derail Karolina Pliskova's Stuttgart title defense

After splitting the first two sets, the two traded service holds until Azarenka got an opening in the 10th and final game.

ByAshley Ndebele

Published Apr 25, 2019

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With a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over defending champion Karolina Pliskova, unseeded Victoria Azarenka is through to the quarterfinals of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart.

After splitting the first two sets, the two traded service holds until Azarenka got an opening in the 10th and final game. It was all the opening she needed, as she closed out the match with her first match point.

In her opener against veteran Vera Zvonareva on Wednesday, Azarenka overcame jet lag after participating in the Fed Cup semifinal in Australia this past weekend.

"I have no idea right now of the time or what's happening," she told the press. "The flight from Australia was so long I felt like it was never going to end."

It wasn't the only time Azarenka discussed fatigue this week. On Twitter, the two-time Grand Slam champion responded to a tweet about match duration at the majors:

Men should just play best of three in my opinion! Will be much better quality of tennis and hopefully no ruined finals or semifinals because of the exhaustion... like has happened quite a bit https://t.co/KLafGS3Bzn
— victoria azarenka (@vika7) April 24, 2019

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Which led to a series of tweets about the subject:

Why wouldn’t there be those matches? So in your opinion there never been an amazing 3 set match for the history books? Really?
Makes not that much sense to me. But that’s my opinion. I’m not trying to change yours https://t.co/RNswWXJUE7
— victoria azarenka (@vika7) April 25, 2019

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We just had a new rule added to shorten matches with a time clock. What you talking about makes zero sense and has no facts. And I will ask how many spectators in the stadium have set thru the entire 5 set match. Go.. I’ll wait https://t.co/au0IuxrcR7
— victoria azarenka (@vika7) April 25, 2019

All I’m saying is different people like different things, so if it’s not what you like just go on and move along and do what makes you happy. But stop forcing what you like or your opinion on other people. Voice your opinion and be free, but it’s okay to disagree, just be nice
— victoria azarenka (@vika7) April 25, 2019

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The 29-year-old Belarusian next plays No. 8-seeded Anett Kontaveit, who took out Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2.

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