WTA Championships Day 2: Serena, Azarenka look to post consecutive wins

(2)Victoria Azarenka v (7)Jelena Jankovic (Head-to-head: Azarenka leads 5-3)

It was not exactly the way Victoria Azarenka would have liked to start off the proceedings at Istanbul. She looked rusty, was slow off the blocks, struggled with her serve and mistimed her returns. She looked in grave danger of losing a set to a player she had dominated the last five times. But as we have seen numerous times with Azarenka, she slowly tidied up her game, started hitting with more precision with occasional dropshots disrupting the rhythm of her opponent. She committed just two unforced errors for the entire part of the second set which helped her break the three-match losing streak she had since her US Open semi-final win.

Azarenka likes to be a front-runner and the victory would give her oodles of confidence for she would be facing a rival who can pose a bigger challenge. Jelena Jankovic has great defense, anticipation and can mix it up slices and lobs when required.

It is admirable to see the way Jelena Jankovic worked her way back into the top 10 again after sliding out of the top 30. She even admitted that the slide robbed her of her love for the game. A title at Bogota, two finals versus Serena and a handful of semi-finals and the ever-affable Serbian was back in the top 10 and in her 5th Championships! The 28-year-old already knows how to rattle Victoria Azarenka given their last meeting – this year in the Cincinnati semi-finals – went the distance and had 23 service breaks! Azarenka needs to be on her guard and not repeat the errors she committed against Errani and definitely needs to serve well.

Prediction: Azarenka wins in three sets.