Victoria Azarenka had something she wanted to say to chair umpire Marija Cicak before her Guadalajara match against Madison Keys. On Wednesday, Cicak was the chair umpire for the match between Sloane Stephens and Belinda Bencic. In the fifth game of the second set, with Bencic having the lead, Bencic’s ball was called, but Stephens hit the ball and returned it well inside Bencic’s court.
After Bencic’s challenge showed his ball was in, Cicak awarded Bencic the point and the game. Stephens looked stunned when Cicak insisted that the ball he hit was in and out and that it was logical to give Bencic the point.
See Stephens – Bencic from yesterday and what happened here is pure theft. Not only from Cicak, who made a huge mistake, but also from Bencic, because how the hell could he think that he deserved to win this point? He is giving Pome-Hsieh at Wimbledon.
pic.twitter.com/VYaqB8358F — Marty (@Svitoflopina) October 20, 2022
On Thursday, Cicak was back in the chair to referee the match between Azarenka and Keys. «I saw your mistake yesterday,» Azarenka told Cicak during the coin toss.
«Thanks, that’s a good way to start. I take it. We all make mistakes,» Cicak replied, all while Keys couldn’t help but laugh at Azarenka’s roasts.
Azarenka to Marija Cicak during the coin toss before her match against Keys: «I saw your mistake yesterday,» followed by an invaluable reaction from Keys.
«Thanks, that’s a good way to start.
I take that We all make mistakes,» Cicak replies. Keys just can’t stop laughing 😂 pic.twitter.com/VDXV2o2hO7 – Gaspar Ribeiro Lanza (@gasparlanca) October 20, 2022
Azarenka defeated Keys
After starting the match with a barbecue, Azarenka went on to beat Keys in three sets 6-4 6-7 (4) 6-1.
Azarenka had a great start to the match, claiming back-to-back breaks to open up a 3-0 lead. Keys got a break in the fourth game, but Azarenka held on for her second game and thus won the first set.
After winning the first set, Azarenka broke Keys midway through the second set and led 5-3. In the second set, Keys was twice down by a break, but twice did not allow Azarenka to serve for the match. Keys managed to force a tie break, starting with a 4-0 lead before converting her second set point to send the match to a decider.
After winning the second set, Keys broke Azarenka in the first game of the third set. Azarenka then went on a huge run, claiming three breaks in a row and winning the next six games to complete a three-set victory.
