Victoria Azarenka is a three-time champion in Miami. She won the Miami Masters in 2009, 2011, and 2016. However, her 2022 campaign has been cut short in her third-round match against 16-year-old prodigy, Linda Fruhvirtova from Czech Republic. While Fruhvirtova was dominating the match from the very beginning, Azarenka retired in a bizarre fashion midway through the second set. Her abrupt exit certainly shocked and disappointed one and all.
Wow…. pic.twitter.com/SuVWW7cQZ1
— Martin (@PojdBase) March 27, 2022
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The score when she left the court, without as much as even calling the physio on the court stood at 6-2, 3-0 in the Czech’s favor. Notably, the 32-year-old is not the only Top 20 player Fruhvirtova has defeated so far at this year’s Miami Open. Before Azarenka, she defeated 20th seed, Elise Mertens in three sets in her Round-of-64 clash.
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Victoria Azarenka walks out without even a wave
In what was not the best display of sportsmanship, Victoria Azarenka retired from her third-round match at the Miami Open in one of the most disrespectful and bizarre manners one could ever imagine. Walking up to the Chair Umpire, she said a few words, barely shook hands, and left the court without congratulating her opponent.
The teenager started both sets the same way by quickly winning the first three games. She broke the Belarussian’s serve four times out of the seven break point opportunities she got. It was clear that Azarenka was not her usual self, and it finally resulted in a sudden and abrupt retirement.
Linda Fruhvirtova shares her thoughts about Azarenka
“Playing against Vika was definitely cool,? Fruhvirtova said. ?She was one of the players I grew up watching and she was definitely one of the players to look up to for me, so it was an honor to be on the court with her... I hope that she feels better as soon as possible… I don’t think I’ve ever played in such a big stadium and these are the memories I’m going to remember forever,” she added, mentioning how she did not want it to end in this way.
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This is Azarenka's 7th mid-tournament retirement/withdrawal in the past 14 months.
— Oleg S. (@AnnaK_4ever) March 27, 2022
Before she retired, she seemed to vent her frustration by looking towards her coach, and shouting ‘why am I here?’. However, the 32-year-old failed to regroup herself enough to continue playing.
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This notably marks Azarenka’s seventh mid-tournament withdrawal in little more than a year.