Wang Yafan Stuns No. 20 Seed Victoria Azarenka

During the last act of a huge surprise at the 2024 US Open, Wang Yafan beat No. 20 seed Victoria Azarenka in an extended three-set encounter. A rematch of their earlier battle in Washington, D.C., which Azarenka won. This time it was Wang Yafan who turned the tables in such convincing style as she won 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 and sealed her first-ever spot in the fourth round of a Grand Slam.

It was an emotional rollercoaster of a match, with Wang's unflappable steadiness, determination, and skill against Azarenka, the much higher-ranked opponent. At such odds, even then, Wang Yafan held gallantly as she outlasted Azarenka in a nearly two-hour contest. Converting vital break points was one of the keys to her victory, besides ill-timed errors off Azarenka's racquet.

Photo byBen HersheyonUnsplash

Wang Outperforms Azarenka With Key Stats

Some of the stats that will stand out from Wang's performance are amazing on paper. Compared to Azarenka, she converted six break points whereas her opponent only converted four. Her serve was a pretty important weapon as well, going for 70% compared to Azarenka's 61%. Furthermore, at the net, Wang Yafan was well ahead, taking 68% of her net points into her pocket to 42% for Azarenka. These statistics illustrated Yafan's tactical superiority in this match.

Wang Yafan was consistent and just waiting for Azarenka's mistakes. Though not as powerful in shots, Yafan's persistent chase and skill dragged Azarenka to commit more errors. Azarenka did seem to have problems with unforced errors. She made 32 shots and Wang had only 17 such errors. Wang Yafan capitalized on those mistakes, which helped her win the match.

Wang’s Strong Finish

The momentum reversed in the second set. Azarenka was far more focused as she came out after a frustrating first set. She even got warned for racquet abuse but used frustration to power her comeback. Azarenka broke the Yafan serve early on and retained the lead, taking the set 6-3. However, Yafan did not allow this setback to deter her determination.

The third set was the one where Yafan shined. She began strongly, racing out to a 4-0 lead courtesy of two early breaks of serve. Azarenka, who never found her consistency in the match, was not able to challenge. Although Azarenka did manage to briefly fight back, some steady play and resistance saw Yafan through as she broke again and served out the match to win 6-1.

Wang Yafan’s Fourth Round Victory

The fourth round of the US Open was something big for Yafan's career. She has, therefore, set the bar high in this tournament since she will be expected to perform equally well in other matches that may follow. This will pose different challenges as the competition gets closer to the end. This win boosts her confidence and puts her on the radar as one of the strong players in this tournament.

The stunning upset victory of Wang Yafan over Victoria Azarenka showcases an instance of skill and determination that defines her. That she was able to defeat a higher-ranked opponent and secure her spot in the fourth round certainly is representative of the potential this young tennis star truly possesses. The rest of the US Open has many fans and analysts eager to know just how far Yafam can go in this thrilling tournament.

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Article originally written by Ifra tabassum