By Chris Oddo | Wednesday June 21, 2017
Victoria Azarenka saved three match points and edged Risa Ozaki in three sets to book her spot in the second round at the Mallorca Open.
Photo Source: Mallorca Open
Victoria Azarenka saved three match points to defeat Risa Ozaki, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(7), in her first match since giving birth to her son in December. Azarenka began the day with her back against the wall in part two of a match that was suspended due to darkness with Ozaki leading 5-4 and about to serve for the match.
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On Tuesday, after leading by a set, the former World No.1 found herself down a double break in a decider before rallying to stave off defeat before darkness intervened.
The Belarussian advances to face No.7-seeded Ana Konjuh in the second round of the Mallorca Open.
Azarenka broke to level upon resumption of the contest on Wednesday to level at 5-all in set three, but she was quickly broken back by Ozaki in the next game. The World No.74 went on to hold triple match point in the 12th game, but she was unable to finish Azarenka off and was broken again.
In the third-set tiebreaker Ozaki held a 5-3 lead before dropping the next three points. She battled, saving two match points to stay alive, but unlike Azarenka, Ozaki could not save a third match point. Azarenka sealed her victory with a backhand winner to book her spot in the second round.