In-control Azarenka beats Cornet in Wimbledon opener

LONDON, Great Britain - For the 12th time in 13 career appearances, Victoria Azarenka is into the second round at Wimbledon.

The Belarusian defeated France's Alizé Cornet to close out Monday's action on Court 12, 6-4, 6-4, in nearly 90 minutes. 

With the victory, Azarenka improved her head-to-head against Cornet to 6-0, scoring a victory in the pair's first-ever meeting on grass and first match in over three years.

"I felt like it was pretty good quality of the match. First rounds can be tricky, especially on grass. Waiting kind of the whole day for the match also takes a little bit of adjustment and is nerve-wracking. You want to get on the court and get to play and stuff," Azarenka said.

"I feel like first matches are something that you want to start the tournament and everybody is a little nervous to see how you can do.

"I felt like I started really strong, and I had a little hiccup in the first set, but I recovered really well and kind of stepped on, you know, the gas and didn't really let go after."

Azarenka put herself in command as she broke Cornet in the first game of each set, but needed to hold off some stern resistance from the Frenchwoman to win in straights.

Cornet broke serve on her fourth break point in the sixth game of the opener, and later held to take her first lead, but Azarenka ultimately won 12 of the last 14 points to sneak away with the first set. 

In the second set, Azarenka was forced to save two break points as she served for the match, the lone chances Cornet held in the set, to see her way safely through. 

The two-time Grand Slam champion nearly doubled Cornet's total of winners for the match, hitting 28 to Cornet's 18, with 22 unforced errors to the Frenchwoman's 17. 

Up next for Azarenka will be a meeting with Aussie Ajla Tomljanovic, who dropped just four games to beat No.29 seed and 2018 quarterfinalist Daria Kasatkina, 6-3, 6-1.