World No.2 Victoria Azarenka is through to her second Brisbane International women’s final after launching a dogged comeback to suppress a firing Jelena Jankovic 1-6 6-3 6-4 in their Pat Rafter Arena semifinal clash on Friday afternoon.
Azarenka sets up an anticipated women’s final against the winner of world No.1 Serena Williams and fourth-ranked rival Maria Sharapova, in what could be an apt prelude to Melbourne’s final stage and one she is motivated to take full advantage.
“That’s what I’m here for, to go every day and try to beat the best. If you want to win big titles and big tournaments you’ve got to play against the best players,” Azarenka said.
“If there is no challenge it seems boring and un-motivating.”
In the first of a blockbuster pair of women’s semis, the 2009 Brisbane International champion was left desperately searching for answers after Jankovic, a former world No.1, steamrolled to a 6-1 first set in just 29 minutes.
Azarenka was forced to stand and watch as balls rocketed past her – Jankovic power-hitting deep in the court before pouncing on short replies with trademark down-the-line winners.
Finding rhythm in critical exchanges at the beginning of the second, Azarenka managed to save three break points in the opening game to quell the onslaught before racing to a 4-1 lead.
“I think we can look at it as a struggle, but I don’t think that was a struggle. I think Jelena played really, really well in the first set,” Azarenka said.
“I think the whole actually game from the beginning was kind of a changing moment. Even though it was Love‑40, I felt like I went for the shots that I had to and I started to believe that that was the right play.”
Starting to wait in the down-the-line pocket, the second seed seemed to finally solidify a shift in momentum, but the fourth-seeded Serbian forced her way back onto the baseline, saving three consecutive break points and forcing the set back on serve.
But, with another break leaving her serving for the set at 5-3, Azarenka was finding answers and after saving break-back points the Belarussian levelled the match with her first ace of the match.
The pair went toe-to-toe from the baseline in the third and while they both had opportunities, it was the world no.2 who took the critical points on the way to a 5-1 advantage.
“In the first set when I was on top and dictating and had everything in my control, and it was all up to me what’s going to happen,” Jankovic said.
“For some reason – I don’t know why, I had tough matches or it’s hot – but I lost the intensity that needed to be there.”
With the finish line in sight, the Grand Slam champion should have been hard to stop, but the experienced Jankovic again proved difficult to put away, taking advantage of a shaky Azarenka to diminish the lead to 5-4.
Azarenka looked far from convincing but on her second attempt at match point a Jankovic shot found the net, closing out the match 6-4 in what appeared to be just in time.
“Overall it was a tough match, and I think we both battled. It was close until the end,” Jankovic said.
The heavyweight women’s final will be played on Saturday night; a focused Azarenka doesn’t like to ponder matches before she steps on court, but either way she’s expecting a match worthy of the world stage.
“No matter who I play it’s going to be a very, very big challenge. That’s what you want in the final.”
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