2017 Wimbledon Championships is almost through its first week. In the women's singles contest, after today's session, some highly-anticipated encounters emerged. One of them is Simona Halep vs Victoria Azarenka, a match-up that will produce some delightful tennis on Monday.
While Azarenka is trying to make an impact on the eve of her return on the WTA professional tour, Simona Halep has a higher goal. After failing to capture her maiden Grand Slam title at the recently ended French Open, she bids again, this time at Wimbledon. The world no. 1 spot is at stake for the Romanian.
It seems like a double ended battle now that Karolina Pliskova is out of the contest. Even so, the Czech has the upper hand and Halep must reach at least the semi's in order to achieve that elusive world no. 1 milestone.
Simona Halep made a perfect run
Throughout the first week, Romania's no. 1 made no wrong moves in her quarter. She went on winning each encounter in the minimum of sets required. One by one Marina Erakovic, Beatriz Haddad Maia and Shuai Peng walked off the tennis court in defeat.
Last year, Halep reached the quarterfinals stages where she eventually lost to Angelique Kerber (2016 Wimbledon runner-up) in two tight sets. Her best outcome on the London lawns remains that semifinal from 2014 when an ankle injury prevented her from playing at full potential against Eugenie Bouchard.
If she gets past Azarenka, the next phase could bring Johanna Konta to the other side of the net. The no. 1 British player is set to face Caroline Garcia in the fourth round.
Victoria Azarenka re-emerging as a WTA star
Seven months after giving birth to a child, the former world no. 1 from Belarus is back in action. During her first appearance a few weeks ago in Mallorca during a warm-up event for Wimbledon, she made her intention clear.
Ranked outside the top 500 mainly due to inactivity, she is nevertheless making the headlines at Wimbledon.
Reaching the fourth round stage has been a bumpy ride for Victoria. In the opening round, she got past the WTA rising star Catherine Bellis. The second round saw Azarenka breeze past lat year's semifinalist Elena Vesnina, while in the third round she edged Heather Watson out after being a set down.
Simona Halep and Victoria Azarenka have a short common history consisting of three past episodes. Azarenka leads by 2-1 even though Halep won their last meeting at the 2015 US Open.