Svetlana Kuznetsova and Victoria Azarenka provided what was perhaps the best tennis on the opening day of the Qatar Open on Monday, with Azarenka prevailing 6-2 6-3.
Despite conceding the first set, Russia’s Kuznetsova put up a spirited defense in the second leading to increasingly sprawling rallies with her well-matched Belarusian opponent.
A number of knife-edge line calls added to the suspense as the two played into the evening, prolonged by Kuznetsova’s formidable depth and court coverage in the second set.
Azarenka’s composure slipped in the seventh game of the second as she failed to capitalize on several break points, swearing loudly towards her coach.
“I definitel…
Keep on reading: Azarenka shines in cloudy Doha in day one of Qatar Open