‘Very proud’ Azarenka sets up Rybakina semi-final encounter
Victoria Azarenka reached her first Australian Open semi-final since winning the title in 2013 when she knocked out third seed Jessica Pegula 6-4, 6-1 in the quarterfinals yesterday.
The Belarusian 24th seed outlasted her American opponent in a marathon 64-minute first set before running away with the second to set up a last-four encounter against Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina at Melbourne Park.
Pegula was the highest remaining women’s seed left in Melbourne, but the hotly tipped American simply had no answers to Azarenka’s pounding forehand groundstrokes.
“I don’t know what to do. The ball’s not going anywhere,” Pegula said.
Azarenka, whose two Australian Open titles came in 2012 and 2013, rolled back the years to seal the surprise triumph.
The 33-year-old is back in the last four in Melbourne for the first time since her 2013 victory.
“Well, it hurts to beat her because I always want her to do well,” Azarenka said of Pegula, a close friend and practice partner.
“I am very proud that I executed my game plan really well.”
She admitted that playing at the 15,000-seat Rod Laver Arena had been “nerve-wracking”.
“So amazing to be in another semifinal of a Grand Slam,” she said.
Asked how her young son Leo would receive his mum’s latest achievement, Azarenka said: “He’s more worried about his football and when we’re going to play again. He definitely wants his mum to be home.”
Leo will have to wait at least a few more days because Azarenka faces Moscow-born Kazakh Rybakina tomorrow for a place in the final.
Rybakina blasted her way into the semi-finals with a ruthless 6-2, 6-4 win over Jelena Ostapenko.
The 23-year-old Rybakina sent down 11 aces to blow former French Open champion Ostapenko off court in 79 minutes.
The 22nd seed has blasted 35 aces so far, more than any other woman at the tournament.
Ominously, she said her serve is better now than when she won Wimbledon last year.
“I gained even more power. It’s my weapon on the court and of course we are trying to work on it,” she said, before adding: “Always a lot to improve.”
Now she is eyeing a second major crown, with only one top-10 seed left in the draw — fifth seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus.
“In the beginning it feels like it’s such a long tournament,” said Rybakina, asked if she thought the finish line was in sight.
“Of course if you keep on winning it seems already close. I’m trying to focus just on one match. For sure it’s close, that’s why everybody is now going to try even harder, fight for every ball. It’s going to be tough matches.”