Britain's Johanna Konta celebrates her win over Canada's Gabriela Dabrowski during their women's singles first round match at the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament in Tokyo on Tuesday — AFP TOKYO, Sept 18 (AFP): Former world number one Victoria Azarenka fought the gremlins to beat Japan's Kurumi Nara 6-4, 7-5 and reach the last 16 of the Pan Pacific Open on Tuesday.
The Belarusian, who has tumbled down the rankings following a messy custody battle over baby Leo, ironed out the glitches just in time with Nara threatening to force a deciding set in Tokyo.
Currently ranked 63rd and contesting the tournament as a wildcard, Azarenka smashed her racquet on the court in fury at her wastefulness before converting her fourth match point with a thumping cross-court backhand after an hour and 52 minutes.
"It was definitely a little tougher than it should have been," said Azarenka.
"I had so many opportunities to close the match earlier but she's a great fighter," added the former Australian Open champion, who blew a kiss to Leo and promised to bring him to Tokyo next year.
"But a win is a win so I'm happy."
Earlier, Croatia's Donna Vekic took advantage of a litany of errors from American Sloane Stephens, the tournament's fifth seed, to topple last year's US Open champion 6-4, 6-4.
Johanna Konta showed glimpses of the form that made her a top-five player last year by crushing Canada's Gabriela Dabrowski 6-2, 6-0.
The Briton reached a career-high fourth in the world last year when she reached the Wimbledon semi-finals but has since slipped to 43rd in the rankings after a wretched run of form.
Australia's Ashleigh Barty ousted American Coco Vandeweghe, who partnered her to the US Open doubles title earlier this month, the seventh seed coming through 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.
Eighth seed Barbora Strycova negotiated a potentially tricky opener against Kazakhstan's Zarina Diyas with a solid 6-4, 6-4 victory, sealed with a fifth ace belted down the centre line.
Elsewhere, American Alison Riske upset fellow qualifier Eugenie Bouchard of Canada 6-4, 6-4 to reach the last 16 of a tournament whose list of former champions includes tennis greats Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, Kimiko Date and Martina Hingis.
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