EASTBOURNE UPDATE BY GLOBAL CHICK

Written by: Staff on 17th June 2014

EASTBOURNE UPDATE BY GLOBAL CHICK

epa04023992 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in action during her match against Barbora Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic in round two of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 16 January 2014. EPA/JOE CASTRO AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT |

WTA Seeds fly at Eastbourne

The Eastbourne organisers must be drowning their sorrows in ice-cream by the sea-side as wildcard fourth seed, former World No. 1 and two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka joined Agnieszka Radwanska on an early train back to Wimbledon.

For the second day in a row a top draw name on the women’s Premier draw tumbled out of the tournament, although Azarenka did put up quite the fight, in a three set fight to the end with Camila Giorgi.

Azarenka had been proud to be part of the Rally 4 Bally exhibition matches at the weekend, making fun of her trademark howl but it was back down to business as she had to rally from 2-4 down to reel off four games on the bounce, only for Giorgi to race into a 5-0 lead before Azarenka got a few games on the board before the crowd were treated to a momentum swinging decider, 4-6 6-3 7-5.

It showed that Azarenka was just missing that sharpness that you would expect, and she admitted as much after the match:

“That’s what you miss a little bit when you don’t compete is to get that ‑‑ not even movement. It’s just the reaction of the ball and where to go, quick decision‑making. I think that’s important, especially on grass.

“I was really happy that I was there for every single moment, for every single ball. I felt that my level of concentration was really high. I just have to get into that rhythm.”

Her opponent’s consistency saw her reach the final in Katowice earlier this year, and while it is a good win for her, there is no doubt about her focus, and the crowd were firmly in her corner, especially in the final set.

“It was a really nice atmosphere out there. I think it’s a good match. Now I must think about the second round.”

She faces Britain’s Johanna Konta in the next round.

Third seed Jelena Jankovic is also heading back up to SW19 after being swept aside by Madison Keys. Keys just managed to keep her head while Jankovic was losing hers.

Keys said: “It was pretty, just really solid, wasn’t playing out of my mind or anything like that. After the first couple of games I served really well and I was returning pretty well. I felt like I was just taking time away really well.

“It kind of keeps you going and everything, knowing you’re getting to them and they’re kind of starting to lose it.”

Home crowd hopes did better with the women, as the British No. 1 Heather Watson and the British No. 3 Johanna Konta marked the beginning and end of the day with wins. The stalwarts who braved what passes for a summer evening (read very cold once the sun goes in) sat out in the dying light to cheer on Heather Watson who fought back to force a decider over grass court warrior Tsvetana Pironkova, who capitulated in the third set 3-6 7-5 6-2.

Donald Young put paid to the last of the British Men’s hopes when he closed down James Ward with ease 6-3 6-2. He has been pulling himself back up the rankings this year, from just inside the Top 100 at the start of the year to just outside the Top 60.

Donald Young.

Donald Young and his mother, llona Young, after his win in Eastbourne today.

The ATP action leads on Wednesday with a match up of Richard Gasquet against Bernard Tomic. Gasquet, who was made to get up close and personal with a falcon for a photo opportunity looked pain free in practice as the battle of the injured headlines the day’s action at Eastbourne.

Topics: Agnieszka Radwanska, Atp, Donald Young, Eastbourne, global chick, Sports, Tennis, Victoria Azarenka, Wimbledon, Wta

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10sBalls_com says:

June 17, 2014 at 10:35 pm

EASTBOURNE UPDATE BY GLOBAL CHICK – http://t.co/fenXxiLwHM #Eastbourne #tennis #ATP #WTA #sports @vika7 @DonaldYoungUSA