Azarenka thrashed by Schmeidlova at French Open

Victoria Azarenka’s sad French Open marketing campaign ended on Wednesday as the previous world primary was overwhelmed 6-2 6-2 by Slovakia’s Anna Karolina Schmiedlova within the second spherical.

The Belarussian 10th seed, who was criticised for moaning in regards to the chilly and damp circumstances in her opening spherical win, capitulated in feeble trend towards her 161st-ranked opponent.

Her defeat continued an exodus of main seeds with Johanna Konta (9), Madison Keys (12),final yr’s runner-up Marketa Vondrousova (15) and one other former world primary Angelique Kerber (18) having already been overwhelmed whereas sixth seed Serena Williams withdrew on Wednesday with an Achilles harm.

Azarenka’s defeat implies that not one of the ladies’s semi-finalists at this month’s U.S. Open are left within the draw right here, though winner Naomi Osaka didn’t journey to France.

“I felt like nothing really was working, but I still had to find a way to win, and I didn’t,” Azarenka, runner-up to Osaka at Flushing Meadows, instructed reporters.

Former top-30 participant Schmiedlova, who’s enjoying with a protected rating of 93 after knee surgical procedure sidelined her in 2019, has loved a surprising return to type in Paris, having overwhelmed one other former primary, Venus Williams, in spherical one to finish a run of 12 consecutive first-round losses in Slams.

She backed up that win over Williams with an clever show towards an error-prone Azarenka.

“I always thought that one year it has to come,” stated Scmiedlova, who now has Argentine qualifier Nadia Podoroska standing between her and the last-16 of a Grand Slam for the primary time.

“I think I did everything I could to be back here. I’m very happy that it came, especially this year.”

Azarenka, once more enjoying in black leggings, double-faulted to drop serve within the opening sport when play lastly began on Court Simonne-Mathieu after one more rain delay.

It didn’t get significantly better for the 31-year-old.

Scmiedlova’s one actual second of alarm got here at 1-1 within the second set when she slipped and landed closely on her left knee and required remedy.

But she confirmed no ill-effects as she moved right into a 5-2 lead with a few breaks of serve. Schmiedlova introduced up match level with a forehand winner and sealed victory as Azarenka fired a 37th unforced error.

(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Alison Williams and Christian Radnedge)