Most people have probably heard of a “blessing in disguise.”  It is something which at first seems upsetting or unfortunate that in hindsight ultimately turns out for the better.  Such a scenario may be on tap for Victoria Azarenka and Jelena Jankovic, who will face off in the second round of the Miami Open.  It is a high-quality and difficult encounter to occur so early in the event, but for the victor, it is also an opportunity to quickly get match tough and more confident, which could pay dividends down the road.  

Naturally, the most immediate goal of both women is simply to get the victory and advance to the next round.  But in the grander scheme of things, they are looking to build on and continue momentum.  Between the two, this is arguably a more crucial mission for Jankovic.  The Serb had a very rough start to the year, only winning a total of two matches in her first four events.  That all changed at Indian Wells, however.  She surprised everyone by reaching the final, gutting out the bulk of her matches on her journey there in three sets.  Given her dismal start to the year, the last thing she wants is for this momentum she gained in the desert to be abruptly brought to a halt.  Furthermore, given the manner in which she lost the final in Indian Wells – a performance that could only be described as blatant choking – it is imperative that she quickly get back on the winning track.  And finally, at age thirty, her window as a professional is closing.  There is a growing sense of urgency that it has to be now or never if she is going to put together another great season that sees her back in the Top 10 and competing for the sport's most prestigious titles.  

At twenty-five, Azarenka is not feeling the same pressures that come with age as Jankovic might be, but that does not mean that she has avoided anxieties about her time in the sport.  After missing the majority of 2014 with multiple injuries, the Belarusian may very well have thought she was potentially headed for a premature retirement.  Certainly the bulk of her appearances last season would have done little to banish such perilous thoughts.  But she has made a good go of it in 2015.  She reached the second week of the Australian Open as well as the final of Doha before Maria Sharapova slowed her progress by handing her a defeat in the third round of Indian Wells.  Azarenka will be keen to resume her winning ways though, and as she has already secured two Miami titles in her career, she will likely feel good about her chances of putting together another good run in the Florida metropolis.  

While nothing will assuredly be a given in this match, the slight edge has to go to Azarenka.  She has won on six of the ten occasions when she has met Jankovic, including their first encounter, which occurred at this tournament nearly a decade ago.  She has more firepower than the Serb and is apt to be the fresher of the pair.  But despite odds favoring her opponent, Jankovic will have her share of looks at getting the victory.  With four wins over the Belarusian, she is not going to enter this match feeling intimidated.  Furthermore, winning often breeds more winning, and with the way she pulled off her victories en route to the final of Indian Wells, she ought to be feeling good about her game and confident in her ability to earn the victory, no matter what situation she finds herself in over the course of this match.  Plus, Jankovic has the superior hands at the net and is the better mover – the latter of which could become increasingly instrumental as Azareka continues to struggle with finding her best footwork.         

Obviously, as is so often the case, the victor in this match will be the woman who has successfully utilized her strengths and executed her game plan best.  That victor will walk away safe in the knowledge that she has a berth in the third round.  Equally important, that victor will also walk away knowing that she has vanquished a quality opponent in a match up worthy of the second week.  That should leave her better prepared, particularly mentally, for the increasing pressure in the rounds to come.  In short, this battle between Azarenka and Jankovic may just be the springboard to not only a great showing in Miami for either competitor, but perhaps onto bigger and better things over the course of 2015.