MATCH REPORT | 2024 Australian Open: Victoria AZARENKA triumphs over Jelena OSTAPENKO and reaches fourth-round

Victoria Azarenka maintains her undefeated record against Jelena Ostapenko with a 6-1, 7-5 victory, advancing to the fourth round of the 2024 Australian Open. This marks the 11th time that the Belarusian has reached the second week in Melbourne, a tournament she won in 2012 and 2013.

Azarenka (No. 22) and Ostapenko (No. 10) contested one of the most compelling matches in the third round of the women's singles, being one of the two matchups that featured two seeded players (Sabalenka – Tsurenko being the other), with both players being former Grand Slam champions.

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On her way to the third round, Ostapenko secured two victories against local players, first against the wild card Kimberly Birrell (No. 116) with a score of 7-6(5), 6-1, and in the second round against Alja Tomljanovic (No. 271) with a score of 6-0, 3-6, 6-4. Former world No. 1 Azarenka went the distance in her two matches against Camila Giorgi (No. 53) winning 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, and then against the 22-year-old Clara Tauson (No. 96) winning 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.

In the first set, Azarenka started strongly, securing an early break in the second game of the match and quickly taking a 3-0 lead on her serve. While Ostapenko managed to win her first service game, she became erratic afterward, and Azarenka easily won the set 6-1 in just 26 minutes.

Ostapenko attempted to control the baseline rallies and move the Belarusian around the court in the second set. However, Azarenka displayed high precision, recording 9 winners and only 2 unforced errors, compared to Ostapenko's 6 winners and 13 unforced errors.

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In the second set, Azarenka faced uncertainties when Ostapenko took an early lead of 5-2 after securing a break. Azarenka then showcased her resilience and demonstrated why she is one of the best returners on the tour. She capitalized on Ostapenko's second serves to find winning shots and won four consecutive games to lead 6-5.

In the 12th game, Ostapenko had four break points in her favor, but Azarenka held her ground and secured the victory 6-1 7-5. Azarenka claimed her 50th win at the Australian Open and her 160th in a Grand Slam. In the fourth round, she will face the Ukrainian surprise, Dayana Yastremska (No. 93), a 23-year-old who shocked the 7th seed Marketa Vondrousova in the first round and followed it with consecutive victories against Varvara Gracheva (No. 39) and the 27th seed Emma Navarro.

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