Sabalenka denies Azarenka's top 10 return dream at Montreal
Aryna Sabalenka beat Victoria Azarenka 6-2, 6-4 at the WTA Montreal Masters.
MONTREAL (AFP) - Aryna Sabalenka won a battle of Belarus on Friday, denying compatriot Victoria Azarenka the chance to return to the top 10 with a 6-2, 6-4 victory at the WTA Montreal Masters.
Azaranka, a 32-year-old with two Australian Open titles to her credit, last ranked in the elite group five years ago before motherhood.
The quarter-final success for top seed Sabalenka took 82 minutes, with the big-serving winner adding seven aces to her season s WTA-leading total of 265.
Sabalenka has now won three of four matches with her compatriot, including their last in October 2020 in Ostrava.
Azarenka played Canadian semi-finals in 2010 and 2011. Sabalenka was playing her eighth quarter-final of 2021, putting her in the joint lead in that statistical category with world number one Ashleigh Barty.
"There were a few points that really made a big difference," Azarenka said. "I had opportunities in the first set.
"But she was playing much stronger in the important moments. I didn t really quite take my chances. Compared to other players, she s probably one of the hardest hitting."
Sabalenka will next meet fourth seed Karolina Pliskova after the Czech defeated Spain s Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-4, 6-0.
Pliskova stopped Sabalenka in their last meeting, a Wimbledon semi-final in July.
