Vika wins right to defend

If Victoria Azarenka was asked before the tournament whether she expected to be playing Sloane Stephens in the semi final, unofficially I expect the questioner would have been put in the nuthouse.
Yet here she was, the amazingly talented teenager who had shattered the dream of Serena Williams continuing her quest for another "Serena Slam" in a gutsy quarter final win full of class and attractive shot manufacture.

There is something else about Sloane Stephens that needs to be investigated.  In her quarter final, Williams left the court at one point to seek medical attention.  So indeed did Vika Azarenka in the semi final.  What does Sloane do that has such an effect on these very best female players?  Is she that much of a threat?

From the moment the match started no earthly creation was going to help Sloane deal with the vast artillery that Azarenka had at her disposal.  It is not about power with the top seed but about variety and the all court game that added to her pace and movement makes her unstoppable in stretches at a time.
Admittedly this Aus Open Vika has been slightly below the awesome level of 2012 but peaking for Saturday night is what counts and her first set today appeared to be on the perfect trajectory.

The ground strokes had Stephens constantly off balance and put of position, mitigating any power that the American had intended to employ with a number of shots.  The forehand strength was balanced beautifully with the occasional backhand lob or drop shot emphasising the variety needed when aiming for the elite rankings.

Azarenka broke again to lead 4-1 and a slashing backhand won the set when the Stephens serve was dropped for a third time.  6-1 Azarenka and not much doubt about Li Na's final opponent so far.

The score in Set 2 was 2-0 and the interview room was being prepared for the winner with questions framed for Azarenka surrounding her preparation for the final in two days time.  Then Sloane Stephens intervened breaking back for 1-2 and soon games were 3-2 and on serve, the conclusion of the match less defined.

The serve for each of the players became a liability and four times in succession it was dropped. Significantly, each time that Sloane achieved a break it was to effectively stay alive in the quarter final, which says volumes for her determination and ability at such an early stage of her career.

The eighth game was a real treat with Stephens battling off several match points and spending overtime at deuce before Azarenka was the first to crack.

At 4-5, with Stephens set to serve, Azarenka left the court for medical treatment, the timing rather interesting and worth a question or two just for clarification.

Whether this had an adverse impact on Stephens we may never know.  We do know that it stopped the momentum, she failed to hold serve yet again and the match could no longer continue.

Victoria Azarenka won the right to defend her title with a 6-1 6-4 victory over the revelation of the tournament Sloane Stephens.