AUCKLAND: The ageless Venus Williams launched her 25th year as a professional by outlasting Victoria Azarenka in a three-set thriller on day two of the WTA Auckland Classic here on Tuesday.

In the showdown between the two former world number ones, the 38-year-old Venus overcame Azarenka, nine years her junior, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3.

The two hour 10 minute marathon was packed with power and precision, and in the end Azarenka’s nine aces were not enough.

Venus’ superior accuracy in the opening stages gave her the first set, before Azarenka took the second by blasting winners as she moved her opponent from side to side.

In the deciding third set there were two breaks by each player in the first six games before Venus opened a gap to go 5-3 up when Azarenka was wide with a cross-court forehand. The American then served for the match.

Defending champion Julia Goerges coasted through her first match with a 6-0, 6-4 win over Sweden’s Johanna Larsson, while fifth seed Barbora Strycova was forced into a three-set battle to survive Taylor Townsend.

Strycova raced to a 5-1 lead over Townsend before the American lifted her game to force the match to a deciding set in which the Czech prevailed, to win 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3.

Fourth seed Petra Martic and injured eighth seed Alison Van Uytvanck both bowed out in the first round.

American Sofia Kenin produced the first upset of the tournament when she knocked out Martic 7-5, 2-6, 6-2.

Van Uytvanck retired with an ankle injury when leading Dutch qualifier Bibiane Schoofs 4-3 in the first set.

Published in Dawn, January 2nd, 2019