Victoria Azarenka pulls out of the quarter-final clash at Toray Pan Pacific Open – Tennis News
Reigning world number one, Victoria Azarenka, couldn’t recover from the dizziness that disturbed her in the pre-quarters encounter against the Italian superstar, Roberta Vinci. However, she kept on fighting her opponents as well
as the disease and registered a triumph on Wednesday. She was having a fierce race against time to get fit for the quarter-final clash.
She was scheduled to take on the German number one star, Angelique Kerber, in the morning of Thursday but the dizziness continued to dismantle her concentration levels. While conducting a press conference, she confessed, “Before
the tournament I wasn't feeling very good. I had low energy and I wasn't myself. It wasn't possible today. Maybe it was tiredness from the whole season. It's a little bit unknown what it is."
Azarenka called her medical staff at the court to have a check-up during her clash against Vinci. They checked her blood pressure which was slightly away from normal figures but a green signal was given to her to continue the proceedings.
However, the issue enhanced overnight and the problems for the Belarusian superstar forced her withdrawal from the competition.
The walkover for Kerber will help her conserve energy against her semi-final opponent who happens to be the top ranked Pole star, Agnieszka Radwanska. Former world number one, Caroline Wozniacki, was the victim to the straight
sets battering by the Pole superstar.
Two quarter-finals from the other side of the draw witnessed upsets. The Russian superstar, Nadia Petrova, bounced back a set down to oust the Italian number one, Sara Errani. Another Russian, Maria Sharapova, failed to handle
the onslaught of the former US Open Champion, Samantha Stosur, and handed over straight sets victory to her. Stosur will locks horns against Petrova in the semi-final of the tournament.
The proceedings on Thursday reveal that the Top-2 seeds are sent packing without a semi-final appearance in Tokyo. Petrova is the underdog who has shown immense energy at the age of 30 to write-off her opponents throughout the
tournament. It is turning out to the tournament of upsets.
Radwanska has a great chance to retain her title having seen the other two superior seeds being knocked-out already.
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