Azarenka to Meet Sharapova in French Open Semis

June 5, 2013 | By Kristina Hyland
Viktoria_Azarenka_01_1
Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka, third seeded at Roland Garros, defeated Maria Kirilenko of Russia, 7-6 (3), 6-2, at the French Open on Wednesday. Azarenka is the first woman to represent Belarus in the semifinals of the French Open.

Azarenka won five consecutive points, leading 6-1 in the tiebreaker, and then hit a backhand cross-court shot that won her the first set within 76 minutes. Kirilenko called for medical attention in the opening set for treatment of her lower back. After nearly two hours, Azarenka held strong and took the second set.

Kirilenko has yet to advance past the quarterfinals in any Grand Slam tournament. She double-faulted in the second set, trailing 3-1.

Azarenka will next face Maria Sharapova in the semifinals, who defeated 18th-seeded Jelena Jankovic, 0-6, 6-4, 6-3. After losing the first six games, Sharapova won the last four, allowing her to reach the semifinals. At 42-9, she is the best among active female players at the French Open. Sharapova won her first French Open title in 2012, completing her career Grand Slam.


Kristina Hyland
Intern, Long Island Tennis Magazine

Kristina Hyland is from Lynbrook, NY. She is a senior at the University of Dayton in Ohio, majoring in public relations and minoring in political science. Kristina is interning for Long Island Tennis Magazine during the Summer of 2013. She can be reached at kristinah@litennismag.com.

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