Belarus’ Azarenka progresses into Cincinnati Masters round two

Belarus’ world number 18 Victoria Azarenka has moved to the second round of the Cincinnati Masters with the total prize money pool coming in at $2,7 million, BelTA has learned.

In the opener the former world number one defeated world number 11 Barbora Krejcikova, 6-3, 7-5. The Belarusian will next face either Croatia’s world number 22 Donna Vekic or world number 432 Jennifer Brady of the United States. In 2013 and 2020 Victoria Azarenka won the tournament’s singles event in 2013 and 2020 and the doubles event together with Russia’s Maria Kirilenko in 2010.    

world number 74 Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus lost to China’s world number 24 Qinwen Zheng, 1-6, 4-6. In the round of Last 32 the Chinese will take on world number 593 Venus Williams of the United States who saw off Russia’s world number 16 Veronika Kudermetova, 6-4, 7-5.

Belarus’ world number two Aryna Sabalenka will open her Cincinnati Masters run from the second round where she will play either Poland’s world number 23 Magda Linette or world number 191 Ann Li of the United States.

The competitions in Cincinnati will be over on 20 August.