Azarenka’s winning run ends in Stuttgart

 

Originally published on: 21/04/11 10:08

Victoria Azarenka’s 11 match-winning streak came to an end yesterday after the Belarusian was forced to retire from the WTA Porsche Tennis Grand Prix with a shoulder injury.

The 21-year-old, who rose to a career-high No.5 in the world after claiming back-to-back triumphs in Marbella and Miami, had to retire after losing the first set against Germany’s Julia Goerges.

“I picked up a shoulder injury during Fed Cup and didn’t play the last day there,” said Azarenka. “I have been trying to rehab for the last few days. I came here and tried my best to play but unfortunately it just keeps getting worse and worse.”

Benefiting from Azarenka’s withdrawal, Goerges is one of four Germans through to the last eight in Stuttgart, with Andrea Petkovic repeating her Miami upset of Jelena Jankovic, and wildcards Kristina Barrois and Sabine Lisicki managing scalps of eighth-seed Marion Bartoli and 6th seed Na Li, respectively.

Usual suspects Vera Zvonareva and Caroline Wozniacki remained on course for their second final meet of the year (the Russian prevailed in the Doha final this February) after both came through three set second round encounters.

The world No.1 was aided by an injury to lucky loser Zuzana Kucova, who was forced to retire at 4-4 in the third set while Zvonareva was tested by compatriot Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

The Russian faces Sam Stosur for a place in the semi-finals after the Australian re-discovered some of the form that took her to the French Open final last year.

“We’ve played each other lots of times and we know each others’ games pretty well,” Stosur said of Zvonareva, against whom she has recorded an impressive five wins in seven career-meetings.

“I have had good success against her in the past and I need to just remember what I did and do it again,” added the 27-year-old.

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