The Russian came back from a set down to pull off the upset against the two time grand slam champion.
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova is into the quarterfinals of the French Open after coming back to beat Belarusian Victoria Azarenka in three sets 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 in two hours and nine minutes. The Russian hit 45 winners in the win while the number 15 seed hit 30 unforced errors in the loss.
“It’s incredible that 10 years later I’m still playing tennis and it’s a little surprise for me and I fought for every ball, every point and I thought I played well but I think she played super well especially in the first set but I fought and I am very happy to win”.
Pavlyuchenkova is referencing the fact that last time she reached the quarterfinals at Roland Garros was exactly 10 years ago back in 2011 and now she is back in the final eight of the tournament.
The Russian didn’t have the best start to the match as in the first game of the first set she would serve a double fault to give the number 15 seed a breakpoint and the Belarusian would break with a backhand winner to take an early 1-0 lead.
The world number 32 would respond the next game by earning three breakpoints of her very own and would get the break back when the world number 16 served a double fault.
After finally holding serve the Russian would earn two chances to break and at the second time of asking would break to take a 3-1 lead but was unable to consolidate the break.
It would stay on serve until 5-5 when this time it was the Minsk, Belarus native who would break to take a 6-5 lead and serve for the first set saving two breakpoints as well as converting a set point on her second opportunity to take the first set.
The Russian would storm back in the second set and after holding the opening service game of the set would earn her first chance to break and convert to take an early 2-0 lead.
Again the Belarusian would respond by earning a breakpoint with a great forehand winner and breaking back to go back on serve but was broken once again the following game.
Once again holding serve seemed to be an issue for both players and Azarenka would break back. At 4-3 the Russian would break once again to take a 5-3 lead and serve out the second set to send it to a decider.
The Russian continued to have the momentum going into the third set and earned two breakpoints in the first game, breaking with a forehand winner of her very own.
The Belarusian responded by breaking back the next game and holding serve before going on the offensive but the Russian hung in and held serve again.
The Russian earned two more chances to get a break and she did just that and this time managed to consolidate the break to take a 4-2 lead and keep the momentum once again, getting a double break lead before serving out the match.
In her on court interview Pavlyuchenkova spoke about reuniting with her brother as her coach and how things have been going since they rejoined forces.
“He actually plays tennis really well but now he stopped which is good because he can play with me and we already worked together in the past and it worked well and now I am very happy because he is my brother and tactically I like what he tells me and he is always so positive and even today when I lost the first set and I think that’s very important for me”
Pavlyuchenkova will either face the American Serena Williams or Elena Rybakina from Kazakstan in the quarterfinals.
