World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka survived 60 unforced errors to beat Italian Alberta Brianti 76(6), 64, 62 in her first round at the French Open earlier today.

Azarenka was just two games from elimination. At one point Brianti led 76, 40 with a point for 50 (a point she called “lucky”) before the Belarussian stormed back.

:I think it says it all,” Azarenka said about her high number of errors. “Bad days happen. Unfortunately today I had way more mistakes than I usually do, but, you know, it happens sometimes. The first match, they’re not easy. But in the end of the day I still won the match, I manage to go through those 60 mistakes and still win the match. I think that’s pretty good statistics. If it would be 60 winners and I would lose that match, or win this match this way, I think that would suck a little bit more.”

After a very strong start to the season, winning the Australian Open, Azarenka’s form has fallen off this spring, and she came into Paris with a shoulder injury she now says has healed. With the women’s event wide open, Azarenka doesn’t care that few are picking her to win the title.

“I don’t actually don’t even listen to that, and I don’t really care, honestly, you know?” Azarenka said. “We’ll see in two weeks. It’s not my concern to peak. My job is to play tennis and prove it in the tennis court. The other things, not my business, really.”

Filed under: French Open
Tags: Victoria Azarenka