Qatar Open: Azarenka survives Putintseva scare; Anisimova, Cornet also advance

Doha [Qatar], February 21 : Two-time champion Victoria Azarenka fought back from a double-break down in the third set and saved a match point to best Yulia Putintseva in the opening round of the Qatar Open on Sunday. Amanda Anisimova and Alize Cornet also won night matches.
Former World No.1 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus had to stage an incredible fightback in her opening match, outlasting Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan 5-7, 6-2, 7-5.
The No.12 seed Azarenka, who won back-to-back Doha titles in 2012 and 2013, was down 0-4 in the third set and saved a match point at 5-4 in the decider before prevailing after 2 hours and 48 minutes of gripping tennis.
Azarenka won 74 percent of her first-service points and fired 51 winners overall to eke out the win and move to 6-3 for the 2022 season thus far.
Two-time Australian Open champion Azarenka will have her first meeting with Madison Brengle of the United States in the second round. Brengle defeated Turkish wildcard Ipek Oz on Sunday, 7-5, 6-3.
Earlier, Amanda Anisimova of the United States notched a first-round win, defeating Brazilian qualifier Beatriz Haddad Maia 7-5, 6-4 in an hour and 27 minutes.
Alize Cornet of France won the nightcap, outdoing Liudmila Samsonova of Russia 3-6, 6-4, 7-5. The 2-hour and 25-minute clash ended just before 1:00 a.m. local time.