PARIS — Former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka delivered a masterclass in dominance at the French Open on Monday, storming into the second round with a ruthless 48-minute "double bagel" victory over Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer. The 6-0, 6-0 scoreline marked Azarenka's first double bagel at a Grand Slam since 2016 and sent a clear message to her Roland Garros rivals.
The Belarusian star, seeded No. 19, needed just 20 minutes to secure the first set, winning 24 of 29 points as Wickmayer struggled to find any rhythm. Azarenka's relentless aggression and precision left the Belgian scrambling, with the match concluding in under an hour—one of the fastest victories of the tournament so far. "I just tried to stay focused point by point," Azarenka said post-match. "It's not easy to play someone you know well, but I executed my game plan well today."
A Ruthless Display
Azarenka's performance was a clinic in efficiency. She converted all six break points she earned, while Wickmayer failed to create a single break opportunity. The two-time Australian Open champion finished with just four unforced errors compared to Wickmayer's 23, showcasing near-flawless tennis.
Key stats from the match:
- First-serve points won: Azarenka 88% vs. Wickmayer 38%
- Winners: Azarenka 14, Wickmayer 3
- Net points won: Azarenka 7/7, Wickmayer 1/5
Wickmayer, a former US Open semifinalist, admitted she was overwhelmed. "Vika was just too good today. I couldn’t find my serve, my rhythm—nothing worked."
Historic Context
This was Azarenka's third career double bagel at a major, following similar demolitions of Alison Riske (2016 Australian Open) and Johanna Larsson (2012 US Open). It also marked the fastest completed women's match at Roland Garros since Simona Halep's 45-minute win over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in 2017.
Notable "double bagels" in Grand Slam history:
- Steffi Graf def. Natalia Zvereva, 1988 French Open final (32 minutes)
- Martina Navratilova def. Virginia Ruzici, 1982 US Open (35 minutes)
- Rafael Nadal def. Juan Monaco, 2012 French Open (1 hour 46 minutes—rare in men's tennis)
What’s Next for Azarenka?
The 34-year-old will face either No. 113 Diane Parry or Kamilla Rakhimova in the second round. With her confidence soaring, Azarenka could be a dark horse in a wide-open bottom half of the draw. "I’m taking it one match at a time, but I feel good physically and mentally," she told reporters.
Azarenka’s best French Open result remains her 2013 semifinal run, where she lost to Maria Sharapova. This year, with defending champion Iga Świątek looming as a potential quarterfinal opponent, the Belarusian will need to maintain this level to challenge for the title.
Wickmayer’s Struggles Continue
For Wickmayer, the loss extended a dismal clay-court season. The 33-year-old, once ranked as high as No. 12, has now won just one main-draw match on the surface in 2024. "I’ll go back to the practice court and reset for the grass," she said post-match.
Conclusion
Azarenka’s emphatic victory reaffirms her status as a threat on any surface. While double bagels are rare at this level, her performance was a reminder of her peak capabilities. As she progresses in Paris, fans will watch to see if she can sustain this blistering form against tougher opposition.