The 2nd round of play at the 2012 Australian Open was not the fairytale run Casey Dellacqua remembered from her winning streak in 2008.
With her past lingering in the back of her head, Dellacqua stepped back onto Rod Laver Arena in front of an Australian packed crowd.
This time however, it was Victoria Azarenka, the number 3 seed staring her down from the opposite side of the net.
The WA starlet was forced to fight for the opening game of the match, after Azarenka came out firing. Dellacqua however, settled quickly into her stroke and managed to claim the 1st game. Unfortunately for Dellacqua, this was the last game she would win for the match as Azarenka steam rolled her way to the 3rd round.
The 22 year old Belarusian looked incredible on court, darting to and from the net. Her serve was also on fire, slamming them deep into the service box time and time again.
Azarenka looking incredibly capable and a strong favourite on reaching the final of the Australian Open.
Dellacqua will however take a lot from the match as she stated when she spoke to the press late last night.
“Like I said, I wasn’t even playing this time last year, so I’m quite realistic where I’m at. I know I’m not, where I want to be, and I have a lot of work to do.
And I have been working really, really hard and I will continue to do that.
Yeah, I’ll certainly ‑‑ you know, I’m happy with myself where I’m at. I’m actually probably a little bit further along than maybe I would have thought.
You know, to be back out on Rod Laver Arena, like I said, playing the No. 3 in the world, you know, her playing as well as she did and me being out there and experiencing that was kind of a positive in a way.
So I know where I’m at. It would have been worse if I just kept winning maybe.
Yeah, I don’t know. It’s all good. I will just keep working hard. I’ve got doubles tomorrow, I have mixed this week, and a big year to look forward to.”
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