|
Azarenka ends Bartolis winning streak |
|
|
STANFORD, California: Victoria Azarenka of Belarus beat defending champion Marion Bartoli 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the Bank of the West Classic quarterfinals, ending the Frenchwomans run of eight straight victories in the event. "Every single game was tough," Bartoli said. "It was hard to win some easy points because I was fighting and running so much. This was a very high quality game and she just was a little better than me. She was beating me easily the last three times, so there was some improvement." Azarenka advanced to her fourth semifinal of the year. The 18th-ranked Belarusian will face top-seeded Samantha Stosur, a 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 winner over No. 7 Yanina Wickmayer. Stosur, from Australia, is playing in her first tournament since breaking into the top five in the world. She leads the tour with 37 wins this year. Azarenka, seeded eighth and ranked 18th, improved to 4-0 against fourth-seeded Bartoli, who is ranked 14th. "She has improved her game," Azarenka said. "It was a very tough game. It was important to change the rhythm with her and make her move." Bartoli was up 2-0 in the second set before Azarenka won seven consecutive games to take control of the match. "She started the match well, was hitting hard and making so many winners," Azarenka said. "I was trying to stay out there and find my game. It finally went my way." Azarenka, who turns 21 on Saturday, improved to 17-5 on hard courts this year. All three of her career titles have been on hard courts. Third-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland beat Belarus Maria Kirilenko, 7-5, 6-0, in another quarterfinal and, as a result, should move back into the top 10 when the rankings are released next week. |
|
STANFORD,
31/07/2010 |
|