Victoria Azarenka is the first player to reach the semifinals at the Miami Open after her 6-4 6-2 win over 2016 Australian Open semifinalist Johanna Konta. Azarenka is bidding to win her third title in Miami against the winner of the second semifinal between 2016 Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber and Madison Keys.
Azarenka and Konta met for the second time in their careers. In their first head-to-head match played last September in Wuhan Azarenka was forced to retire as she was losing 6-4 1-0.
Azarenka claimed two titles in Brisbane and Indian Wells and has won 19 of her 20 matches played so far in 2016. She lost only one match in the quarter finals at the Australian Open against Angelique Kerber.
Azarenka is one of the strongest favourites to win in Miami after Serena Willaims and Agnieszka Radwanska were knocked out of the tournament in the fourth round. Azarenka came into the quarter final in Miami after claiming a solid 7-6 7-6 win over Garbine Muguruza in one of the best matches played so far in this tournament. Konta beat Danka Kovinic before coming back from a set down to edge Elena Vesnina in three sets. The British player born in Sydney came into today’s quarter final after winning 37 of her last 47 matches
Azarenka, who won the Miami title twice in her career in 2009 and 2011, is looking to become the third woman to score a Indian Wells-Miami double in the same year after Steffi Graf (1994 and 1996) and Kim Clijsters (2005). Last week the Belarussian player beat Serena Williams in the Indian Wells final.
Azarenka never dropped her serve and made just 14 unforced errors. Konta did not convert any of her five break points.
Azarenka earned a double break point with a forehand volley but Konta saved the first opportunity on an error made by Azarenka and the second after winning a 22-shot rally with a forehand pass. Azarenka hit a forehand return to earn her third break point and got her first break in the seventh game to take a 4-3 lead as Konta made a double fault. Konta nearly broke back in the 8th game but was unable to capitalize on her opportunity. Azarenka managed to hold her serve for 5-3.
Azarenka hit a backhand winner to earn a set point, as she was serving for the set. Konta earned a break point with a backhand crosscourt but Azarenka saved it. Konta hit a forehand winner down the line to bring up her second break point of the game and the fourth of the set. Azarenka saved both break points before clinching a hard-fought first set after 58 minutes on her second set point as Konta sent her backhand into the net.
Konta held the first game of the second set. Azarenka got two consecutive breaks in the second set in the third game to love for 2-1 and in the fifth game to 15 to score to pull away to 4-1. Azarenka held her serve to love to take her fifth consecutive game. Azarenka saved a break point with a running topspin forehand crosscourt as she was serving for the second set. Azarenka hit a forehand volley to earn a match point and booked her spot in the semifinal as Konta sent her backhand into the net.
Azarenka lost just one set en route to winning the Indian Wells title and has reached the semifinals in Miami without dropping a set so far in the Miami tournament.
Azarenka is projected to rise to Number 6 in the WTA Ranking after reaching the Miami semifinal.
“Right now I am looking for the semifinal before thinking if I am able to make the Indian Wells-Miami double. It seems so close, but I know it’s really far away. I want to stay present, continue to fight and get better”, said Azarenka.
