TheSportsCampus

Defending Champion and No. 4 seed Li Na, and the third seed Victoria Azarenka raised their games when it mattered the most to advance to the final of the APIA Sydney International on Thursday. Both the women’s singles semi-finals today not only went the full distance but even followed a similar pattern: the eventual winner losing the first set only to comeback all guns blazing in the next two to dispose off her opponent.

Heading into the match in sublime form after demolishing the Brisbane runner up Daniela Hantuchova in the quarters, the world no.2 Petra Kvitova started off on a strong note, winning the first set comfortably 6-1 with the help of some powerful groundstokes. It seemed all but over for the 29-year old Chinese when she was broken in the second set and trailed 3-1. However, like a true champion, she came back strong and at 4-5, reeled off 3 consecutive games to win the set 7-5. Showing tremendous gumption throughout the match in saving 10 of the 14 breakpoints she faced and pressurising the Kvitova second serve, winning 63% of the 2^nd serve points, Na eventually emerged victorious 1-6, 7-5, 6-2.

Li Na’s win ensured that there was no change at the top of the WTA rankings going into the Australian Open, with Caroline Wozniacki holding onto the No. 1 spot followed by Kvitova. Kvitova could have displaced Wozniacki from the top perch in the rankings had she won the title here in Sydney. The Czech though could still end the month at the top of the charts should she out perform the young Dane in Melbourne.

Wozniacki’s nemesis in the quarter-finals, the No. 7 seed Agnieszka Radwanska, started off from where she had left at the quarter-final stage, running away with the first set 6-1 in her match against Victoria Azarenka. The first set served as a wake up call for the 22-year old Belarusian, who held a 5-3 advantage over the Pole going into the match, as she came back into her groove in the second, converting her only break point opportunity to take the set 6-3. The third set proved to be a one-sided affair, with Azarenka winding things up and taking the match 1-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Having emerged as the fitting precursor for the players as well as the fans to next week's Australian Open, the APIA International at Sydney will culminate with a mouth-watering clash between the two ‘power’ ladies who have played the most consistent tennis throughout the tournament. Li Na, leading 4-2 in the head to head, would be looking to quell the challenge of Victoria Azarenka and head into the Australian Open as the player to beat. Azarenka, on the other hand, would like a repeat of the WTA Championships where she pummelled the Chinese in straight sets. May the best diva win.

Women’s Singles – Semifinals
[4] N Li (CHN) d [2] P Kvitova (CZE) 16 75 62
[3] V Azarenka (BLR) d [7] A Radwanska (POL) 16 63 62

File Photograph Copyright: Porsche Tennis Grand Prix