Azarenka Tames Crawford to Reach Brisbane Final
Former world number one Victoria Azarenka put an end to the run of American Samantha Crawford in Brisbane on Friday, defeating her 6-0, 6-3 to advance to the Brisbane International finals.
Azarenka came out determined to put away the American qualifier from the start. She broke Crawford in the opening game, and then followed suit with another break after that for a 3-0 lead. The Belarusian did not take her foot off the gas either, breaking Crawford one more time as she went on to win the opening set 6-0, winning 76 percent of all points in the set.
In the second, neither player could do much on serve. Azarenka broke early for a 2-1 lead, and consolidated it with a hold to go up 3-1, before eventually closing out the match in one hour and eight minutes.
“She hits really big, really hard,” Azarenka said of Crawford. “With a little bit more work and variety she has good potential. I’m sure we’re going to see a lot more of her.”
Azarenka has now dropped just 13 games in four matches on her way to the final. In the final, she will take on fourth-seeded German Angelique Kerber.
Kerber played nearly flawless tennis as she breezed past sixth-seeded Spaniard Carla Suarez-Navarro 6-2, 6-3 in Friday’s first semifinal.
“I think it was a good match from me,” said Kerber. “I was feeling very well from the first point.”
Azarenka has won all five of the previous meetings with Kerber.
“We have marathon matches, all the time,” said Azarenka. “Hopefully it’s another good one.”
