WTA Beijing Open: Victoria Azarenka vs. Polona Hercog

Victoria Azarenka will face the challenge of Polona Hercog on Monday in round two of the China Open.

Victoria Azarenka received a bye in the first round of this year’s China Open, and she’ll be eager to make a good start to her campaign on Monday. The Belarusian made it through to the semi-finals last week in Tokyo, where she lost to eventual champion Agnieszka Radwanska.

Azarenka has been showing flashes of brilliance in the tail end of the season, but she’s fallen short every time that she’s come close to winning a title. She should be one of the main contenders here in Beijing, and considering the quality of players in this week’s draw, she’s got a fairly favourable run in to the latter stages.

Her next match will be a second round clash against Polona Hercog. Hercog earned her berth in round two by dismissing British qualifier Laura Robson in just over an hour and ten minutes (6-4, 6-3). The Slovenian will be pleased with her start to the competition, though an early exit is on the cards unless she can somehow find a way to counter her in-form opponent.