Azarenka on course for a double
Print Edition
VICTORIA Azarenka was well on her way to victory on Wednesday when she drew a code violation for chastising herself too colorfully, and she later angrily jabbed at her eyes with two fingers as if to say, “Watch the ball.”
The Belarus star sets high standards for herself, which is one reason she is undefeated in March.
The two-time grand slam champion moved one win closer to a rare Indian Wells-Key Biscayne double by beating Johanna Konta in the quarterfinals of the Miami Open, 6-4, 6-2.
Top-ranked Novak Djokovic overcame back spasms to defeat No. 7-seeded Tomas Berdych 6-3, 6-3. Afterward Djokovic said he’s not concerned about his back going into the semifinal against No. 15-seeded David Goffin, who became the first Belgian ever to reach the men’s semifinals at Key Biscayne by rallying past No. 18 Gilles Simon 3-6, 6-2, 6-1.
Eight-time women’s champion Serena Williams was eliminated in the fourth round, making Azarenka’s path less daunting. Her next opponent will be No. 2-seeded German Angelique Kerber, who beat No. 22 Madison Keys 6-3, 6-2.
Keys, who committed 39 unforced errors, was the last American in either draw.
No. 15 Svetlana Kuznetsova, who ousted Williams, will play No. 19 Timea Bacsinszky in the other semifinal.
Azarenka, seeded 13th, beat Williams in the Indian Wells final less than two weeks ago and is 20-1 this year. She is trying to become the third woman to win Indian Wells and Key Biscayne in the same year, a feat achieved only by Steffi Graf and Kim Clijsters.
“If I’m able to make it, it’s great,” Azarenka said. “It seems so close, but it’s really far. I want to stay in the present. I want to continue to fight and keep getting better.”
Azarenka won Key Biscayne in 2009 and 2011. A former No. 1 player, she fell out of the top 30 in 2014 because of foot and thigh injuries but will be back in the top five next week.
“I never doubted my abilities,” she said. “The doubt was to get healthy again. I still feel I’m far from my best, and that’s really exciting for me.”
Against the No. 24-seeded Briton Konta, Azarenka wasn’t always pleased with her play. The code violation came when she lost the first game of the second set.
“Sometimes I cuss, and that’s OK,” she said. “Whatever will make me play better, I’m going to do. I was just trying to push myself.”
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
