Victoria Azarenka blames schedule for crashing out of Beijing tournament
World number two disappointed with second early early exit in a week, committing 15 double faults
Reigning China Open champion Victoria Azarenka lamented her lack of preparation after crashing out in Beijing at the first stage yesterday – her second early exit from a tournament in a week.
The world number two also blamed her mental fragility for the 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 loss to Andrea Petkovic, a match in which she was often seen cursing to herself as she committed a staggering 15 double faults.
The second seed had earlier in September lost the US Open final to world number one Serena Williams before losing to her sister Venus in the second round of the Pan Pacific Open last week, a match in which she claimed to have felt ill.
I probably should have taken a longer break and just prepared myself
The Belarusian said her defeats in Tokyo and Beijing could be attributed to her tough schedule as the season draws to a close.
“I probably should have taken a longer break and just prepared myself,” the 24-year-old said after her defeat.
“I don’t feel like I was ready to play,” she said, adding that “the preparation wasn’t there enough, so I cannot deny that.
“It’s just my mistakes for not paying much attention after the US Open, how I managed my time and how I managed my health.”
Azarenka also said she felt frustrated in the game against the 2011 finalist, which was held at Beijing’s National Tennis Centre.