MINSK, 20 August (BelTA) – Belarus' world number 15 Victoria Azarenka did not make it to the 2021 Western & Southern Open quarterfinal, losing 0-6, 2-6 to world number one Ashleigh Barty of Australia, BelTA has learned.
The Belarusian saw off Russia's world number 52 Liudmila Samsonova, 6-2, 6-3, in the opener and notched a second-round win against world number 37 Alison Riske of the United States, 6-2, 7-5.
Belarus' world number 3 Aryna Sabalenka lost to Spain's world number 31 Paula Badosa Gibert 7-5, 2-6, 6-7 (4-7) in the event's opener.
Belarus' world number 90 Aliaksandra Sasnovich lost 2-6, 6-3, 1-6 to world number 67 Heather Watson of the UK in the first round of the 2021 Western & Southern Open main draw.
In the doubles quarterfinal Belarus' Aliaksandra Sasnovich and Russia's Anna Blinkova solved Spanish duo Paula Badosa Gibert and Sara Sorribes Tormo, 4-6, 6-4, 10-3.
The tournament in Cincinnati will be over on 22 August. The event serves as an important rehearsal before the season's final Grand Slam tournament – US Open, which is due to take place in New York on 30 August-11 September.
