Press releases

MINSK, 30 March (BelTA) – Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, currently ranked 186 in the world, was beaten by U.S. world number 12 Sloane Stephens 6-3, 2-6, 1-6 in the Miami Open 2018 semifinal, BelTA has learned.

After a comfortable win in the first set the Belarusian took the first two games of the second but Sloane Stephens won 10 games in a row to turn the tie around.

Thursday match was the second time the U.S. world number 12 has defeated Victoria Azarenka this month, having won in straight sets in the second round at Indian Wells.

Earlier, the Belarusian came through World No.44 Catherine Bellis of the United States, U.S. world number 15 Madison Keys, Latvia’s world number 17 Anastasija Sevastova, Poland’s world number 32 Agnieszka Radwanska, and Czech world number six Karolina Pliskova. Despite the semifinal loss, Victoria Azarenka is set to return to the WTA Top 100 next week.

Victoria Azarenka won the Miami Open in 2009, 2011, and 2016.