Victoria Azarenka outfoxes Angelique Kerber to reach the semis – London Olympics 2012
World number one, Victoria Azarenka, stamped her authority by winning the match in straight sets 6-4, 7-5 against the seventh ranked German, Angelique Kerber. The triumph confirmed her spot in the semi-finals of the London Olympics.
On the eve of Thursday, both players locked horns for the third time in their tennis career including their first clash during the Wimbledon (juniors) tournaments way back in 2004. Luck didn’t change for the 24-year-old German
who lost yet again in her third battle against the top seed Belarusian and failed to get off the mark in the head-to-head series.
Azarenka commenced the proceedings with a serve hold to love and trounced her competitor in the following game to register the first breakthrough of the match. She was tested mildly by the German top professional but survived the
scare to post a resounding lead of 3-0.
Both players tested their respective rivals at the grass courts of the All England Lawn Tennis Club. Finally, the efforts of the German were rewarded with a breakthrough to her name that helped her diminish the trail and serve
hold in the following game levelled the scores at 4-4.
However, the tables were turned upon the German seventh seed in the 10th game of the match when she was forced to drop a breakpoint after failing to successfully win a point and hold her serve on two different occurrences.
The second set witnessed a flurry of breakpoints for both players. Despite six breakpoints in the first 10 games of the set, none had an advantage over the other and the scores were still tied at 5-5. However, the nervy German
again faltered in the last game of the set and failed to keep her hopes alive for a semi-final place.
While leaving the arena, Azarenka commented about the match and her opponent stating, “We had the longest rallies. At one point I just couldn't believe when it was going to be over during the point. It was a really tough one, a
very good match from both of us. We showed very high quality tennis and a big fight today and there's nothing more that you could ask from both of us. It was important to take command first and stay aggressive. It was very difficult to do it all the time against
her, but in the end I think I got it the most."
Victoria Azarenka meets Serena Williams in the next round.
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