Victoria Azarenka stuns Jessica Pegula to reach Australian Open semi-finals, sets up Elena Rybakina clash
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Updated 24/01/2023 at 11:29 GMT
Two-time Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka dominated Jessica Pegula in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open to reach the last four in Melbourne for the first time since 2013. Azarenka completely outplayed her opponent throughout the match and will play Elena Rybakina in the last four on Friday. Stream the 2023 Australian Open live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.co.uk
'Best I've seen Azarenka play in many a year' - Forehand winner sets up break point
Victoria Azarenka stunned Jessica Pegula 6-4 6-1 to reach the semi-finals of the Australian Open for a third time.
Pegula was the highest seed left in the tournament ahead of the match, following Iga Swiatek and Ons Jabeur’s defeats, but struggled to cope with the strong serving and groundstrokes of Azarenka.
The Belarusian will play Elena Rybakina in the last four on Thursday after she defeated Jelena Ostapenko in straight sets.
“It hurts to beat her because I always want her to do well,” said Azarenka of Pegula, who she is friends with. “But at the same time I knew I had to play my best tennis.
“I knew from the first point I had to bring it. We had so many rallies and I just wanted to stay there, take opportunities because she was going to take everything if I didn’t.
“I’m very proud I executed my game plan very well. It’s amazing to be in the semi-finals of another Grand Slam.”
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Azarenka blazes a forehand winner on the opening point against Pegula
Azarenka began aggressively and got the first break of the match when she charged to the net, forcing Pegula into a lob which went long to take a 2-0 lead.
She continued to pull Pegula around the court but the American was able to save six break points to hold her service game for 3-1.
The No. 24 seed held her nerve to rescue a break point as she moved into a 5-2 lead. But Pegula broke back when Azarenka was serving for the set, saving two set points by winning five consecutive points.
Azarenka was finally able to close out the set after 64 minutes on the Pegula serve after she fired a forehand long.
It was a similar story in the second set as Azarenka got her second successive break on Pegula’s serve after an unforced error moved her into a 2-0 lead.
Pegula broke back in the next game, before Azarenka restored a two-game lead to go 3-1 ahead.
From there, she romped her way to victory by winning the next three games as Pegula showed her frustration following further misses and unforced errors.
It's the first time Azarenka has reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open since she lifted the trophy in 2013.
Her only other Grand Slam semi-final in the last 10 seasons came at the 2020 US Open, where she was the runner-up to Naomi Osaka.
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Stream the 2023 Australian Open live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.co.uk.
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