What an occasion. What a contest. There might not be a better match in this tournament, and maybe not next week either. Full of dazzling rallies, champagne shot making and high drama.

It was easily the biggest first round clash in ASB Classic history. Two former world No 1's, with nine grand slams between them, and 69 WTA titles. It was matchup worthy of a final, and only the vagaries of the draw saw the two meet so early in the tournament.

It was a shame for the event that one had to depart; the ever popular Williams, with her gun slinging style, or the powerful Belarussian, on the comeback trail two years after giving birth.

As a spectacle, it certainly lived up to the billing. Some of the shot-making was superb, with both players finding the lines at will. One Azarenka crosscourt forehand pass on the run was an early contender for shot of the tournament, while another squash-style angled backhand surprised everyone in the stadium

Williams, as she often does, started stronger. The 38-year-old wound up her famed serve – still arguably the deadliest on the WTA Tour when it is on – and followed with some punishing forehands.

Azarenka had a frustrating first set. At times she looked on song, but on other occasions her decision making and shot selection was off.

Williams was being pushed to the limit to hold her serve, but managed it, then took her break chances on the Azarenka serve.

She led 5-1 at one point, which didn't reflect the closeness of the contest, before converting her third set point to wrap the set 6-3.

But Azarenka had been improving as the match progressed, and shifted the momentum in the second set. Gone were the unforced errors from the first set, and she began to overpower the American at the baseline.

At times she looked like the player that took consecutive Australian Opens in 2012-13, and bested Serena Williams at the peak of her powers.

Williams couldn't get a foothold in the second set; she only won six points on her serve, was broken twice and couldn't convert any of the staggering seven break opportunities.
Azarenka looked the more likely winner as this stage, but Williams, as she has done so often, rediscovered her mojo in the final set.

Azarenka started to struggle on serve, and errors crept in on her forehand wing. Williams grabbed the crucial break in the eighth game, and was good enough to serve out the match, with Azarenka netting a forehand.