![](https://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/2016+Brisbane+International+Day+5+38qArGOzVuvl.jpg)
Victoria Azarenka in action at the Brisbane International (image via Zimbio.com)
Victoria Azarenka has continued her strong start to 2016 with a 6-1, 6-2, win over Italian eighth seed Roberta Vinci.
The Belarusian displayed moments of her very best tennis alongside other areas of her game which still needs to be improved. Facing Vinci, both players made a tentative start to the match with three consecutive breaks of service (one for Azarenka and two for Vinci). After clinching the second break of Vinci’s serve, Azarenka began to display her dominance in the match as the Italian struggled with her serve. The weak serve from the Italian played into the hands of Azarenka. Vinci won only 32% of her service points (8/25) during the first set as Azarenka broke two more times to seal the set.
Despite Azarenka’s first set onslaught, Vinci kept battling at the start of the second. During a ten-minute third game, the Italian broke for the first time in the match on her fifth attempt to take an early 2-1 lead. Vinci’s momentum was ended in the following game as her fragile serve let her down once again as Azarenka broke back to love. It was a familiar pattern for the rest of the match as the 26-year-old broke Vinci two more times to move to the semifinal.
The only issue for Azarenka in her straight sets win was her unforced error count. The two-time Australian Open champion produced 3 double faults and 23 unforced errors. On the other hand, she also produced 22 winners converted 7/11 break points.
Following her loss to Azarenka, Vinci admitted that she was experiencing an issue with her leg but still paid tribute to her opponents performance.
“She played great, she must have missed three or four balls in the whole match! I tried my best, but I was a little bit tired and also I had a problem with my leg”. Vinci said after her loss.
The issue concerning Vinci’s leg is not considered serious. During her press conference she put the pain down to playing her two previous matches.
American qualifier next
Azarenka will play in the last four at the Brisbane tournament for the fourth time in her career. Awaiting her in the semifinal will be American qualifier Samantha Crawford. The American world No. 142 produced another shock win after defeating former finalist Andrea Petkovic 6-3, 6-0. The 20-year-old is currently playing in her sixth WTA tournament of her career. Crawford, who won the 2012 Girls US Open title, spoke about her shock win.
“It happened fast. I was trying to not think about it too much, not psych myself out,” Crawford said.
“Right after I won on the on-court interview I was like shaking, and then in the lockerroom I was like sitting for just like a little bit. But yeah, this is awesome.”
Carla Suarez Navarro clinched her 400th WTA tour win after outlasting Varvara Lepchenko 4-6, 6-4, 7-5. The win is a big boost for the Spaniard, who will play in her first WTA Semifinal since the Rome Open last May. In the next round Navarro will play Angerlique Kerber. The fourth seed booked a place in the last four after defeating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4, 6-4.