In a late-afternoon battle on Stadium Court, former World No.1 Victoria Azarenka saved two set points and outlasted DC’s Hailey Baptiste 7-6(6), 7-6(3).
Competing for the first time since having to pull out of Wimbledon with a shoulder injury, Azarenka was hardly eased back into things.
The match was a two-hour and 23-minute marathon with Azarenka ultimately rallying from 3-1 down in the second-set tiebreak.
“Pretty tricky match,” Azarenka conceded. “I think it was hard for me to expect kind of a high level of tennis today after having a break and kind of coming off from injury, not really having too much time on the practice court. But I feel like I fought really hard today.”
On the eve of her 35th birthday, Azarenka leaned on her experience to earn the win.
“I think that in the tiebreaks, in the important moments, I really executed well and did what I wanted to do. I'm very happy with that aspect, that when it did count, I really was able to step up my level.”
Along the way, Azarenka rallied from an early break down in the first set and saved multiple set points while serving at 5-6.
Azarenka also lauded the play of Baptiste, who won 88 total points compared to Azarenka’s 87.
“She's a very talented player,” Azarenka said of the 22-year-old Washingtonian. “She served really well. She's able to generate pace and speed quite quickly with power. She didn't give me much of the rhythm today, as well. But I think that my mindset was the key today for the victory.”
Azarenka will next face Yafan Wang in the second round with a potential date against top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka looming in the quarterfinals.
Elsewhere on Tuesday, 2022 NCAA singles champion Peyton Stearns held off DC’s Clervie Ngounoue 6-3, 7-6(3) before a packed crowd on John Harris Court.
Stearns saved the only break point she faced, while Ngounoue battled an inconsistent serve early in the match. With the win, Stearns booked a second-round date with 2021 U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu- the third match Wednesday on John Harris Court (not before 1:30 p.m.).
Despite the defeat, Ngounoue, 18, appreciated her maiden main draw experience at her hometown tournament.
“It’s like a mini version of the U.S. Open,” she said. “I appreciate the support from everybody and the D.C. crowd. Playing on John Harris for the first time was special because I actually watched a ton of matches on that court as a kid.”
Ngounoue will next look to defend her USTA 18s National Championship in San Diego and earn an automatic bid into the main draw of the U.S. Open.
