Swiatek Survives Long Rain Delay To Destroy Former World No. 1 Azarenka in Dubai
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Iga Swiatek handled the rain delay ahead of her first match at the 2025 Dubai Championships well. She managed to beat former WTA World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka in a very convincing style.
Swiatek and Azarenka should have played the second match at the Center Court in Dubai on Tuesday. However, after rain delayed the play, players had to wait multiple hours to get onto the court, making an early afternoon match an evening match.
It was the fifth meeting for the two, and both experienced some success in the past. Azarenka recorded one win against the Pole, while Swiatek won the other three matches.
Both are former World No. 1 players, but Swiatek was an overwhelming favorite in this match, and it didn't take long before she proved why that was the case.
The current No. 2 player flew into the match without looking left and right. She broke early to lead 2-0, and after saving a break point in the following game, the Polish player led already 3-0.
She then broke again to increase her lead to 4-0, and after another hold, it was 5-0 for the Polish player, who last played in Doha, where she lost her winning streak to Jelena Ostapenko.
Azarenka couldn't avoid being bageled in the first set, as she was broken again despite leading 30-0 on her serve. Swiatek won the first set 6-0, and it seemed that nothing could stop her from winning this match.
And indeed, nothing could stop Swiatek from winning. She broke again at the start of the second set. Azarenka simply couldn't challenge the 23-year-old player consistently, which is why she was broken multiple times again.
Swiatek won the match 6-0, 6-2, to reach the third round at the WTA 1000 event in Dubai. Her next opponent at the event will be Dayana Yastremska.
After the match, Swiatek revealed how she handled the long break before the match. The Polish player managed to do quite a lot of things. She read a book, took a nap, and even had some time to build Lego.
"I just read a book. I managed to get a quick nap, which was good, and I started doing some Lego. Then, unfortunately, I had to go and play.. so Lego had to wait."
Swiatek also spoke about her second-round opponent. Azarenka is one of the legends of the game, having won two majors. The Belarusian player is also a former World No. 1 player, and it was clear that Swiatek had a lot of respect for her.
"She’s a legend. I have so much respect for her. Her career is outstanding. She’s still playing super good."
The Polish player will now focus on her next match. If she wins it, she could play against the likes of Qinwen Zheng, Mirra Andreeva, and Marketa Vondrousova in the quarter-finals of the tournament.
