Azarenka doesn't warm to Paris
US Open finalist Victoria Azarenka failed in the second round of the French Open.
by SID
last edit: Sep 30, 2020, 03:49 pm
The 31-year-old from Belarus was surprisingly clearly defeated by Anna Karolina Schmiedlova from Slovakia 2: 6, 2: 6 on Wednesday. Schmiedlova had already defeated the seven-time major winner Venus Williams (USA) in the first round.
Azarenka, however, did not warm to Paris this year. In her first match, she caused a stir with her outfit and some clear sentences in the direction of the head judge. The former world number one played with long trousers and a training jacket in view of the cool temperatures in the French capital. During a break in the rain, she vigorously resisted having to wait on the pitch. "That's a bit ridiculous. It's eight degrees," said Azarenka, not wanting to wait like "a duck". Against Schmiedlova, Azarenka at least renounced her training jacket.
With Azarenka's exit and the injury-related withdrawal of Serena Williams, none of the US Open semi-finalists is in the race in Paris. New York winner Naomi Osaka (Japan) did not even come because of a thigh injury, Jennifer Brady (USA) failed in the first round due to the 17-year-old Danish Clara Tauson.
rg2020