Semi-final previews – Qatar Total Open 2013
After the cracking quarter-final battles on Friday’s eve, the world’s top four players have made their way into the semi-final round of Qatar Total Open 2013. All the last four spots left in the tournament draw have being taken
by the top four seeded players and some nail-biting contests are about to be witnessed in the coming two days.
As it is already expected, the world number one, Victoria Azarenka, registered a comprehensive 6-2, 6-2, victory against the Italian number one, Sara Errani, to book a place in the semis. She is up against the world number four,
Agnieszka Radwanska, who overcame the former world number one, Caroline Wozniacki, in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5, on Friday.
Azarenka is the defending champion in Qatar and is expected to win the title second time on the trot. The 23-year-old Belarusian has ignited the new WTA season with defending her Australian Open Grand Slam title in Melbourne and
she has carried on her sublime touch on the hard courts of Doha as well. She hasn’t dropped a single set in her last three matches of the tournament, defeating Romina Oprandi, Christina McHale and Sara Errani.
She has a formidable record against Radwanska and leads the head-to-head series 11-3. The top seeded Belarusian has won nine of the last 10 encounters against Radwanska and she is expected to register another straight sets victory
over the Polish number one on Saturday evening.
The other big match will be played between the Russian tennis beauty, Maria Sharapova, and the American powerhouse, Serena Williams. The world number three, Sharapova, outplayed the Aussie veteran, Samantha Stosur, 6-2, 6-4, to
reach the round of four. On the other hand, Williams had to recover from being a set down in the contest to overpower the world number seven, Petra Kvitova, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5.
Williams’ victory not only granted her a spot in the semi-finals of Qatar Open but she will be crowned the new world number one on coming Monday. Her triumphs throughout the 2012 WTA season have finally yielded her the top spot
in the WTA Premier Rankings, dismantling Azarenka from the number one position.
Sharapova hasn’t won a single match against Williams since 2004 and has suffered defeats in nine of the last 10 encounters with the American number one. With the current sublime form and sky-high confidence, Williams is once again
the hot favourite for winning against Sharapova on Saturday night and book a spot in the final of the tournament.
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