Elina Svitolina and Victoria Azarenka go head to head for the second time in as many events as they lock…
Elina Svitolina v Victoria Azarenka live stream | Citi Open 2023 Preview
Azarenka and Svitolina face off once more (Associated Press / Alamy Stock Photo)
Elina Svitolina and Victoria Azarenka go head to head for the second time in as many events as they lock horns in the Citi DC Open on Monday.
The pair will face off just three weeks after their epic fourth-round clash at Wimbledon, where Svitolina prevailed in an enthralling tie-break.
The Ukrainian had lost each of her five previous encounters with Azarenka, who appeared on course to extend that streak when she controlled the opening set 6-2.
But an inspired Svitolina hit back with a vengeance as she levelled before overturning a 7-4 deficit in the tie-break to eventually come through 11-9.
That victory came during a wonderful run to the semi-finals for the former world number three, who also took out Venus Williams, Sofia Kenin and Iga Swiatek before succumbing to eventual champion Marketa Vondrousova.
Svitolina has demonstrated no loss of hunger since returning to the tour after maternity leave. A champion in Strasbourg and quarter-finalist at the French Open, she has now won 14 of her last 17 matches.
But Azarenka will be eager to exact revenge on what is her favourite surface, with both her grand slam titles coming on the hard courts at the Australian Open in 2011 and 2012.
The former world number one enjoyed a strong start to the season by reaching the semi-finals in Melbourne, but she has not progressed beyond the last 16 of any event since, and will seek an upturn in fortunes with the US Open fast approaching.
The winner of this match will play either fifth seed Daria Kasatkina or Elise Mertens in the second round of the 2023 Citi DC Open.
Play gets underway at around 12am BST on Monday and will be contested over the best of three sets on Stadium Court.
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