Agnieszka started nervously, and contributed to her own loss of serve with Vika in a far brighter frame of mind. That lasted a few points into Vika's service game before service problems beset her as well. Out of the first eight games serve was held just twice and one wondered whether conditions had played a part.
A smattering of nice drop shots and passing shots did little to mask a range of errors not usually witnessed in a quarter final between players of this quality.Thankfully Aggie pushed pasted the barrier of mediocrity into some more classy shot making to prevent yet another break of her serve, and placed the obligation fair and square on Vika to hold and extend the set. She did and 4-5 turned into 5-5.
The girls were satisfied with one service hold each and conspired to revert to dropping serve once more, first Radwanska then Azarenka. A tiebreak would decide set one. Occasionally a tiebreak is dominated unexpectedly in an even match, and today was the latest exhibit. Agnieszka Radwanska won seven straight points to shut the door on the third seed with four dead locks, capturing a weird first set 7-6.
Having rid herself of the first set gremlins, Vika set about righting the good ship S.S. Azarenka. Holding serve, aided and abetted by her favourite ground shots, Vika transferred her confident manner into an attack on a somewhat tentative Radwanska. That job accomplished, the break was consolidated and the 3-0 lead desired in set one was achieved albeit one set later than planned. Radwanska after dropping another serve focussed her thoughts on the deciding set, having resigned herself to its necessity. Azarenka moved smoothly to 5-0 and wanted desperately to break and earn the rights to first serve in the third.
Not required to do a thing due to a litany of mistakes from Agnieszka, Victoria prepared for the one set sprint to determine our first semi finalist in the women's draw. 6-0 but only good enough to redeem a single set. The match was even despite games being 12 to 7 in favour of Belarus.
Game one extended Vika's convincing run, and her shot making grew a little closer to that for what she is renowned. The errors from the Polish girl helped as well. 1-0 Azarenka.
Good news for Agnieszka in game two - she managed to win successive points on serve - 3 in fact - en route to holding and leveling at 1-1. The game winner a forehand put away to add some spring to the step. With passing shots belonging to a shelf only one level from the top, Vika ran to the safety of a 2-1 lead, again requesting Aggie to catch up.
Running her opponent all around the court, picking what shots to play seemingly at will, Azarenka broke serve based purely on her magnificent tennis to take the ascendency that had been threatening. Leading 3-1 with a service game in hand, the third seed looked the goods, but we had said that about players in similar positions before and had our predictions blow up in our faces.
And this one did too, a poor game from Vika bringing the 8th seed right back into the match, trailing 2-3. Right back out of the match she went just as quickly when her next game fell apart, and 4-2 surely meant a victory for Vika. Doubts again at 15-40 but then a series of delightful points sent her to within one game of the semis.
Not called on again to serve due to a solid returning game pressuring Agnieszka into errors, Victoria Azarenka toughed out the first quarter final 6-7 6-0 6-2. Her semi final opponent the winner of Wozniacki and Clijsters.
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