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Tennis: Sabalenka denies Azarenka's top 10 return dream at Montreal

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Agence France-Presse

<p>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.</p><p>Azarenka, a 32-year-old with two Australian Open titles to her credit, last ranked in the elite group five years ago before motherhood.</p><p>The quarter-final success for top seed Sabalenka took 82 minutes, with the big-serving winner adding seven aces to her season&#x27;s WTA-leading total of 265. </p><p>&quot;I&#x27;m really happy with this, it was a tough match,&quot; Sabalenka said. &quot;She played well.</p><p>&quot;The second set was a little tricky. I&#x27;m really happy that I came back (after trailing 4-2) and won it. I&#x27;m pleased with the level today.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/08/11/21/tennis-top-seed-medvedev-wins-in-toronto">Tennis: Foot injury fells Nadal as top seed Medvedev wins in Toronto</a></li></ul><p>Sabalenka has now won three of four matches against her compatriot, including their last in October, 2020 in Ostrava.</p><p>Azarenka played the Canadian semi-finals in 2010 and 2011. </p><p>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. </p><p>&quot;There were a few points that really made a big difference,&quot; Azarenka said. &quot;I had opportunities in the first set. </p><p>&quot;But she was playing much stronger in the important moments. I didn&#x27;t really quite take my chances. &quot;</p><p>&quot;Compared to other players, she&#x27;s probably one of the hardest hitting.&quot; </p><p>Sabalenka will next take on fourth seed Karolina Pliskova after the Czech defeated Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain 6-4, 6-0. Pliskova stopped Sabalenka in their last meeting, a Wimbledon semi-final in July.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/09/21/tennis-sabalenka-shocks-barty-to-win-madrid-open">Tennis: Sabalenka shocks Barty to win Madrid Open</a></li></ul><p>In the bottom half of the draw, 15th seed Coco Gauff saved two match points before falling to Italy&#x27;s Camila Giorgi 6-4, 7-6 (7/2).</p><p>The win served as revenge for Giorgi, who lost at home to the American teenager in Parma this season.</p><p>Giorgi, ranked 71st, added Gauff to a victim&#x27;s list this week which has included 12th seed Petra Kvitova and number 16 Elise Mertens.</p><p>&quot;I&#x27;m playing very consistently this season,&quot; Giorgi said. &quot;I&#x27;ve had a lot of tournaments without interruptions or injury.</p><p>&quot;I&#x27;ve played through the season without stopping, I think that&#x27;s the key.&quot;</p><p>Giorgi will meet on Saturday with Jessica Pegula after the Australian Open quarter-finalist rallied past 13th seed Ons Jabeur 1-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-0 in 90 minutes with four breaks of the Tunisian&#x27;s serve</p><div><strong>str/gph</strong></div><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><strong>FROM THE ARCHIVES</strong><br/> </div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1722611" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka denying compatriot Victoria Azarenka the chance to return to the top 10 with a 6-2, 6-4 victory at the WTA Montreal Masters.