WHEN Victoria Azarenka appointed Amelie Mauresmo to her coaching line-up a couple of months ago, the idea was to add a harder edge of Grand Slam awareness. Unfortunately the former world No 1’s aversion to Roland Garros seems to have rubbed off on her charge as Azarenka joined the list of big name female casualties at this year’s French Open.
Serena Williams and Caroline Wozniacki were surprise exits and top seed Azarenka, unbeatable at the beginning of the year and worthy champion at January’s Australian Open, was made to look more than ordinary as she fell in the fourth round 6-2 7-6 to the diminutive Slovakian, Dominika Cibulkova.
With conditions hugely different to almost the entirety of the first week — temperatures considerably cooler, the atmosphere damp and the clay playing much slower under overcast skies — Azarenka struggled from the outset.
Cibulkova had tested Azarenka earlier this year in an extended match on a hard court in Miami but the powerful Belarusian held a 7-1 advantage in past confrontations. That counted for nothing, however, as 15th-seeded Cibulkova made the decision that the only way to play the top player in the world was to attack.
A winning position in Miami disintegrated for Cibulkova and she was determined not to let it happen again. “It was really important for me that I kept my head together,” she said. “I’ve been playing really well all tournament but this was the moment I had to do it. Of course it was hard to calm but I think I am getting more mature and tougher mentally.”
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Cibulkova, a semi-finalist at Roland Garros three years ago and runner-up on European clay in Barcelona in the build-up to the French Open, was always going to trouble Azarenka, who has been beset with physical problems — including back, ankle and shoulder injuries — for much of the spring and flirted with defeat in her opening round match with Italian Alberta Brianti.
“Pretty much everything went wrong out there,” said a disconsolate Azarenka, who now plans to take a complete break from competition until Wimbledon, turning down the opportunity to get to grips with English grass at either Edgbaston or Eastbourne.
“I really don't know how to describe my performance today. It wasn't satisfying being out there and playing that way. I guess it happens but I don't know what to find positive in my performance.”
An opening game that lasted a quarter of an hour, complete with eight deuces, showed that the 23-year-old from Bratislava meant business. Within just a few more games it was clear Azarenka’s confidence was ebbing with each exchange and Cibulkova rounded off the first set with four games in quick succession.
The momentum of the match seemed to be changing at the start of the second set with Azarenka, clearly not relishing the cooler conditions despite hailing from the chilly environs of Minsk and still clad in a long-sleeved top, registering an immediate break of serve. However Cibulkova immediately struck back and before too long the top seed vented her frustration by mangling her racket.
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Things extended to a tiebreak and remained tight until Cibulkova unleashed three clean winners, the most important a backhand crosscourt that won a crucial mini-break. From now it was a test of nerve and the world No 16’s held firm as she prevailed on her second match point, sending another precisely hit backhand winner flashing across the court.
Things could not have been more different for Azarenka compared to her form in the year’s opening Grand Slam. “The beginning of the year couldn't have been possibly better for me but it happened and today I lost,” she admitted. “I'm not trying to look back at what happened in January or February right now. I need to learn from what I did today because there is still a lot more tournaments to play, and I have to be ready.”