CALVIÀ, Spain — Returning from maternity leave after a year off tour, Victoria Azarenka packed 12 months’ worth of highs and lows into her first match.
In a match that began Tuesday evening and finished Wednesday afternoon, Azarenka defeated 74th-ranked Risa Ozaki, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7), in the first round of the Mallorca Open, saving three match points on Ozaki’s serve, and recovering from a double-break deficit at 1-4 in the third set.
Azarenka started the match in dominant fashion, racing out to a 4-0 lead. But after her hot start, she seemed to lose focus, and her more passive play allowed the counterpunching Ozaki to dictate more rallies.