Victoria Azarenka achieves unique milestone with thumping win in French Open first round

Former world number one Victoria Azarenka achieves a unique milestone during the French Open. The 35-year-old cemented a thumping win in the first-round of the second Grand Slam of the year on Tuesday as she defeated Yanina Wickmayer in straight sets with a score of 6-0, 6-0.

While doing so, Azarenka achieves some unique milestones. She became the first player ever to score a double bagel in three different decades. Not only that, but she is now the only current active player who has 30 or more wins in every Grand Slam. During the contest, Azarenka was far superior, winning 49 points, 32 more than her opponent on the day. She won 73 percent points on her first serve, once again considerably higher than her opponent who managed to win just 26 percent points on her first serve.

Azarenka’s win on Tuesday was an important one, considering she has not been having a good season. The two-time Grand Slam winner, after yesterday's result, has now won just five out of 12 matches this season. With a flawless performance in the first round, Azarenka will now be hoping to do something she has not done in more than a decade, which is to play in the fourth round or beyond at Roland Garros. Interestingly, Azarenka has not advanced past the fourth round in any Grand Slam since the 2023 Australian Open.

However, to do that, she will have to overcome a formidable opponent in the second round, America’s Sofia Kenin. The one-time Grand Slam winner cemented her spot in the round of 64 at the Roland Garros after beating France’s Varvara Gracheva in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 6-1. It will be the fourth meeting between the two players in professional tennis. In the previous three meetings, Azarenka had an edge, having won on two occasions.