Mubadala Citi DC Open: Svitolina wins first round block-buster against Azarenka

Elina Svitolina has continued her strong form after returning to the WTA Tour, winning a star-studded first round clash against Victoria Azarenka at the Mubadala Citi DC Open on Monday night.

Any other year this could have been the final, and yet, the former world No 3 Svitolina and former No 1 Azarenka were made to play in the opening round. It was Ukrainian Svitolina who was up for the task, however, walking away victorious 7-6 (2), 6-4 and booking her spot in the final 16 in Washington.

It was a tense affair, with both women offering up plenty of break point opportunities – 10 for Svitolina and 11 for Azarenka – and saving the majority. With only two breaks of serve each in the match, the winner was decided by who played the pressure points better, which was Svitolina.

The win for wildcard Svitolina is her first against Azarenka, and comes off the back of an impressive Wimbledon semi-final run last month, shortly after returning to the WTA Tour after giving birth.

Svitolina, ranked No 27, will face the winner of the match between Belgian Elise Mertens and Russian Daria Kasatkina, the No 5 seed, next.

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