Despite playing only one match on grass prior to Wimbledon, Belarusian Victoria Azarenka had been very convincing so far going into her round three match against the Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic, beating Estonian wild card Anett Kontaveit and Belgian Kirsten Flipkens handily in the first and second round respectively. As opposed to the Belarusian's preparation leading up to the prestigious grass court Grand Slam, the Frenchwoman had already played lots of matches on the surface - eight to be precise - and even upset the world number three Simona Halep en route to semifinals in Birmingham two weeks ago.

The match between the two was a hotly anticipated one and it did not disappoint quality-wise. Both being pure hitters of the ball, the pair looked pumped up and ready to trade blows right from the get-go. It was Azarenka who got the advantage early on, as she broke her opponent's serve on her second break point to take a 2-1 lead. The Belarusian 23rd seed then held her serve to love. In the next game, on Mladenovic's serve, Azarenka got to 40-0 when the Frenchwoman shanked an easy put away forehand long. She was not discouraged by this as she proceeded to save all three of Azarenka's break points. The Belarusian got another two break points but Mladenovic saved both, including one with a beautiful combination of a drop shot and put away volley. The unseeded Frenchwoman then went on to hold on her first game point to narrow the score to 2-3. Mladenovic's momentum was immediately halted by the former world number one however, as Azarenka held comfortably. The two kept on holding their serves for the remainder of the set and soon enough, the Belarusian took it 6-4 when a short angle cross court forehand from her drew an error from Mladenovic. 

The second set continued to be a quality affair. In the first game, Azarenka earned a break point when she passed Mladenovic - ranked number seven in the world in doubles - at the net. She converted with a deep return the Frenchwoman was unable to get back on court. She held on to the lead and impressively closed a love hold with a drop shot winner. Mladenovic didn't waste any time herself either as she held to love and narrowed the score to 2-1. The Belarusian then started to show first signs of wavering in the next game serving two consecutive double faults to go down 15-40 in her own serve. The former world number one and a two-time major champion saved both of the break points executing an aggressive game plan. Yet it was all in vain when just two points later Mladenovic levelled the set to 2-all with a big inside out forehand winner and moments later took the lead in the second set 3-2. What followed, was a grueling, high-quality game where Mladenovic moved Azarenka around the court beautifully to earn five break points but couldn't convert any of them and so the Belarusian secured the crucial hold to level the set to 3-all. The momentum seemed to have completely swung in Azarenka's favor when she had two break chances of her own in the next game but the Frenchwoman saved them just like the Belarusian had in the previous game and held to lead 4-3. Azarenka, known as a fighter on the court, snuck a hold to level and the pressure started to build up for both. The more inexperienced Frenchwoman was the first to crack as a poor service game including three unforced errors and a double fault gifted the break to the number 23rd seed. Azarenka made a nervous start when serving for the match, a double fault. In the next point Mladenovic painted the line with a forehand winner to go up 30-0. The Belarusian then composed herself and took the next three points to earn a match point. Mladenovic's return drew an error from her in that point but she soon prevailed on her second match point, 6-4 6-4.

Azarenka, who is still on a comeback trail from various injuries and working her way up the rankings again, advances to the second week of a major for the second time this year, after she achieved the feat at the Australian Open in January. She will face Swiss 18-year-old Belinda Bencic in what will be their first ever meeting. The Belarusian will certainly be a threat to make it further but she should not overlook Bencic, who won her first WTA title just last weekend in Eastbourne.