As has become tradition rain in 2012 serves to frustrate organisers of the US Open, a privilege once the domain of Wimbledon for bragging rights amongst the majors. Before the schedule was significantly affected, one of the highlights of the event was delivered to us. It became a two course affair - pre and post rain - but the post rain piece of the quarter final between Vika Azarenka and Samantha Stosur consisted of some of the best contested women's tennis for some time.
Stosur's woeful record against the world number one continued with a first set dominated by Azarenka 6-1, and against all that momentum and history the defending champion drew on her well of reserves to match it with the talented Belarusian in most departments. Casting self doubt aside, Stosur attacked with her forehand, knowing full well that some of her risk taking would be met with rifled winners either side of her because that is what Azarenka can do better than most.
However the risk can have a reward and the percentages began to favour Stosur as she pursued her revised game plan. Increasingly the Azarenka serve appeared breakable, not dramatically but at least to the point where this became a contest. Sam broke to lead 1-0 in the second set and led 40-15 on serve only for Vika to immediately strike back. The stakes were high and the standard just as elevated for the remainder of the set and it was the Australian who managed to achieve the vital break in the ninth game. The serve served her well and the match sat at a set apiece.
The final set unfortunately at the US Open is always decided by a tie-break should it reach 6-6. It is the only Grand Slam tournament to abbreviate in this fashion and something that annoyingly denies us of some thrilling finishes in normal time by throwing in a lottery to free the impasse.
Of course some tiebreaks can be wonderful cameos and for this small mercy we have to be thankful.
For most of set three Azarenka looked assured of sprinting to the line and avoiding the tie-break. She broke Stosur in the fourth game and served for a 4-1 lead. Failed there thanks to a determined and skillful returning performance from the 7th seed. Again Vika forced the issue to lead 4-2 with serve to come. Once more Sam pushed it back with another thoughtful and effective returning game.
Then the players decided that holding serve had some merit and so 3-4 with Stosur at the line became 5-5 through this method. Stosur pressured Azarenka to break point and asked the most serious question of the match yet of the Australian Open champion. Vika answered clearly enough with her first ace, and with that flowed on to 6-5. Disappointed at not capitalising on the break point, Sam steadied to take the match to a deciding tie-break which in my opinion favoured Azarenka. Had the match gone to advantage Stosur may have had the legs to outlast Azarenka.
Quickly Stosur was down 4-0 and the court interviewer was preparing for Azarenka to answer questions surrounding her victory. However, as had been the pattern for the whole match Stosur fought hard to level at 5-5. With her next serve Sam would be holding match point on Vika's serve or be defending Vika's serve for the semi final spot. The latter prevailed, and with the first match point for either player, the number one seed emerged victorious to reach her first US Open semi final.
6-1 4-6 7-6 (5) A top quality quarter final, one which concluded Samantha Stosur's honourable defence of her title, and announced Victoria Azarenka as the best bet from the top half of the draw to offer some resistance to the irresistible Serena Williams.
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