It appeared that no one could stop Victoria Azarenka at the US Open Wednesday night. The unseeded superstar destroyed 16th seeded Elise Mertens 6-1, 6-0 at Arthur Ashe Stadium at the Billy Jean King National Tennis Center. In a match that was supposed to be hard-fought went one-sided as the tennis mom moved into the semifinal for the first time in a major in seven years.
The two met in a very important point for both as one continued a lengthy winning streak and a quest to capture US Open glory. The other back in her second consecutive quarterfinal eyed to end Azarenka’s ten-match winning streak and reach a second career grand slam semifinal. The Belgian took down Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin in straight sets with 20 winners and eight aces.
Committing only seven unforced errors put Mertens in a great place to tackle the former world number one who struggled in her battle with Karolina Muchova but managed to cruise to victory. While they faced one another in doubles in Melbourne and Miami this season, their singles fight would be a dramatic one if both held their games in check.
Azarenka opened service with Mertens forcing deuce but she kept it short to hold after a break. The 31-year-old consolidated with the following game as the Belgian had some problems on the first serve. Mertens broke back in the third after having her return game challenged by the crosscourt hits from the Belorussian. The Belgian denied her game point and got on the board just in time for her serve. The fourth saw them deliver high lobs to one another with the 31-year-old scoring on terrific court placement, firing the ball back. She forced deuce, producing breakpoints that led to a 3-1 lead on a Mertens double fault.
The momentum flowed with Azarenka as another hold made it 4-1 on a perfect line drive winner. She won 8 of the last 11 points with her ninth scoring the service break and a shot at serving for the set. She held back the Belgian just enough to earn her fourth game in a row and put the first in the books in 35 minutes. The net points stood out as a major key to victory winning 5 of 7 and committed only seven unforced errors. Azarenka outscored Mertens 30-18 showing that she was being outplayed.
It continued into the second set as a fourth service attempt failed at the hands of the Belorussian. She held for a 2-0 lead as it looked like there was little chance for momentum change. Mertens’ offense was on life support while Azarenka continued the attack straight drives and cross-courts. The 16th seed hit line drives but speed was lower than her opponent who struck big to produce AD points in the third.
With a 3-0 run, Azarenka conducted her game smoothly earning a service win and then triple breaking Mertens for a 5-0 stand. With the 31-year-old serving for the match against the 16th seed, it was hers to finish but Mertens somehow forced deuce. Despite playing two breaks, the two-time finalist earned the shutout with the Belgian sending a forehand into the net to end a surprising 1 hour and 13 minutes.
“I feel like I saw the ball really well today and executed the plan that I wanted to do,” Azarenka said to ESPN’s Darren Cahill. “I was aware that I was going to use my speed and power on the ball so I made the court really big today and got her unbalanced to make winners.” Azarenka outscored Mertens 59-35 in a lopsided conclusion no one saw coming. With ten match wins in a row, she’ll try to make it 11 as she goes against Serena Williams who she lost in both final appearances in New York.
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