Azarenka

Get the latest Tennis updates on Eurosport. Catch Jessica Pegula - Victoria Azarenka live on 23/01/2023. Find scores, stats and comments in real time.

Pegula sends her first serve into the net, and then goes long with a return. Pegula then sends down an ace, before another Azarenka error means she takes the game Two errors from the Belarusian gift her the game and we're back on serve! Azarenka has two set points, but Pegula turns on the style, as she quickly goes from brilliant defence into attack, firing down two winners to reach deuce. A fearsome backhand return forces to American to go long again, and the Belarusian duly breaks thanks to another unforced error. The Belarusian saves the first, but then another unforced error hands the break back to her opponent. From 0-15, she gifts Azarenka two points with a pair of errors, before a desperate attempt to end a rally with a drop shot ends badly as it's chased down. Break point, which is taken in similar fashion - a big forehand that results in a slice into the net. The serve has been a major weapon throughout, and she sets up two match points with a big second serve that Pegula fires long. The Belarusian only needs one of them, as well, as a cross-court forehand is volleyed wide. It's so amazing to be in another semi-final of a grand-slam." Tim Henman says: "It's amazing the transformation Azarenka made from the previous round.

There's history on the line in two blockbuster quarterfinal singles clashes on Rod Laver Arena tonight. Two-time Australian Open winner and former world No.

“Azarenka back in the last four Down Under. “It has been really clean, the tennis, from Victoria Azarenka. Pegula, 28, has made the quarters in Melbourne for the past three years and in 2022 also reached the final eight at the French Open and US Open - but she’s still yet to reach a semi. Live Coverage of ATP + WTA Tour Tournaments including Every Finals Match. Watch Tennis Live with beIN SPORTS on Kayo. Azarenka raced out to a 5-2 lead in the first set after breaking Pegula’s first service game as the Belarusian set the tone early.

Men's Singles - [18] Karen Khachanov (RUS) bt [29] Sebastian Korda (USA) 7-6 (5), 6-3, 3-0 retd. Women's Singles ...

Wide serve into the ad court from Rybakina, Ostapenko’s backhand return lands close to the net, the Kazakh rushes and then hits a simple forehand down-the-line - deuce. Khachanov does well to get to the drop shot from Korda and send the ball back, the American’s volley is a poor one and Khachanov hits a forehand volley winner into the open court. A deep forehand return from the American on a T serve, the first in this set, produces the error from the Russian and two break points on offer - 40-15. Nice crosscourt forehand return from Ostapenko to force Rybakina to one end and then finish the rally with a crosscourt backhand return into the open court - third break point. Second serve from Pegula allows Azarenka to get into the rally but she reacts a little late with a backhand return and the American rushes forehand to hit a forehand volley - another break point saved. Pegula* 0-2 Azarenka - Azarenka seemed to have sealed the point, disbalancing Pegula with the loopy return and following it with a crosscourt backhand but Pegula comes up with a brilliant crosscourt backhand pass from the baseline to make it 15-15. Clever point construction from Pegula - drop shot to draw Azarenka followed by a forehand down the line which is just out of the Belarusian’s reach for a forehand volley. Deep backhand return from Azarenka allows her to rush to the net and she finishes the point with a crosscourt backhand volley - 15-30. Smart backhand crosscourt return from Pegula to set up the point and finish it with a forehand winner. Pegula hits the forehand return into the net on a second serve. Heavy forehand return from Pegula after Azarenka hits a sliced forehand - 40-15. The 24th seed saves a game point as Pegula goes for an ambitious drop shot on a crosscourt backhand from Azarenka but the ball goes only as far as the net.

Australian Open, Quarter-Finals Live: 2-time champion Victoria Azarenka has been in fine form as she has taken the first set 6-4 against Jessica Pegula, ...

Heartbreak for Sebastian Korda as he has retired due to a wrist injury after losing the first two sets against Karen Khachanov in the quarter-final. Mind you, Korda is looking to emulate his father, Petr's, run for the 1998 title. Jessica Pegula broke Azarenka's serve to stay in the set but she was not able to maintain her intensity in the service game. However, she holds and goes 5-2 up in the first set. Sebastian Korda called the trainer and got his right wrist examined and strapped. Azarenka was unfortunate as the net chord denies her an opportunity to get back to deuce. It's safe to say that Jessica Pegula is taking time to get into the rhythm. Victoria Azarenka is dictating play in this high-quality affair so far. The 3rd seed breaks back early, unlike the first set. She takes the first set 6-4. She looks like the woman on a mission here! Earlier, Elena Rybakina and Karen Khachanov booked their places in the semi-final.

Victoria Azarenka produced a brilliant display of tennis to dispatch world No. 3 Jessica Pegula and reach the Australian Open semifinals.

However, she soon began to cut a frustrated figure on the court, seemingly trying to play within herself in an attempt to just keep her shots inside the court. Azarenka, of course, knows what it takes to win a grand slam, having won twice before in Melbourne in 2012 and 2013. “It hurts to beat her because I always want her to do well,” Azarenka said in her post-match interview. Many expected Pegula, the world No. [Victoria Azarenka ](https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/21/tennis/victoria-azarenka-leo-son-australian-open-spt-intl/index.html)produced a brilliant display of tennis to dispatch world No. “Last year, my tennis wasn’t bad, but I wasn’t there mentally.

Victoria Azarenka rolled back the years at the Australian Open on Tuesday as the two-times champion crushed third seed Jessica Pegula 6-4 6-1 to reach the ...

"It's so amazing to be in the semi-final of another Grand Slam," Azarenka said. Open in 2020 where she went on to lose in the title clash. Register for free to Reuters and know the full story

Victoria Azarenka dropped just five games against Jessica Pegula to reach the Australian Open semifinals for the first time since 2013.

It really was difficult to be brave and to make the right choices on court in important moments when you feel anxious and hesitant." But she did not reach a final, and ended the year ranked exactly where she began it at No.27. In response, Azarenka came up with a straightforward strategy herself: get Pegula on the move from side to side without letting up. Pegula fended off six points to fall behind a 4-0 double break, and twice saved double set point as she cut Azarenka's lead from 5-2 to 5-4. After she leapt out to a quick 3-0 lead, five of the next six games were tight deuce tussles as Pegula kept threatening to claw her way back. The result is her first Top 5 win at a major since defeating Maria Sharapova in the 2012 US Open semifinals.

Azarenka defeated Pegula 6-4, 6-1; She has not reached the Australian Open semifinals since 2013; The two-time champion will play Elena Rybakina in the last ...

I thought by executing really well, it paid off and the result came," Azarenka told reporters after the match. The Belarusian had set points in each of the next two games, the second of which saw her serve broken for the first time in the match. "She was just executing it, I feel, pretty well tonight. Pegula got a sniff of getting the set back on serve in the seventh game with a break point of her own, however Azarenka clicked back into gear and held for a 5-2 lead. She was doing it well." But she will have to wait until the French Open later this year for her next opportunity to advance to the semifinals of a major for the first time.

Rybakina hit 11 aces to take her tournament-leading total to 35. “I got all the experience at Wimbledon, and it's helping me now this time, here in Australia, ...

Pegula, a 28-year-old from New York, was playing in the quarterfinals in Melbourne for the third year in a row but fell to 0-5 for her career at that stage in Grand Slam tournaments. But also, at the same time, I know I have to play my best tennis. 5 Aryna Sabalenka as the lone top-20 woman still in the bracket. “And sometimes when you have this great result, it just shows you what you are capable of and you start to believe more and more.” She often looked into the stands at her coach, Davis Witt, to say something, including one exclamation about the ball speed of “It’s so ... A three-time runner-up at the U.S. 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece or unseeded Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic for a berth in the men’s final. It was a far cry from the sort of success Pegula had earlier in the tournament: She entered Tuesday having dropped zero sets and 18 games across four previous matches. 1 ranking a decade ago, beating [Jessica Pegula](https://apnews.com/article/buffalo-bills-miami-dolphins-us-open-tennis-championships-cincinnati-bengals-nfl-2c3c6ab465f1f409761754d67e931956) 6-4, 6-1 on Tuesday night to return to the semifinals at Melbourne Park. I always believed in myself, but there are always ups and downs,” said Khachanov, a 26-year-old Russian who is seeded No. He called for a trainer to examine and tape it. 3-seeded Pegula, a good friend, get into the match.

Stream the 2023 Australian Open live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.co.uk.

But Pegula broke back when Azarenka was serving for the set, saving two set points by winning five consecutive points. “I knew from the first point I had to bring it. The No. “But at the same time I knew I had to play my best tennis. Stream the 2023 Australian Open live on Australian Open

Victoria Azarenka reached her first Australian Open semi-final since winning the title in 2013 when she knocked out third seed Jessica Pegula 6-4, ...

"She was just executing it I feel pretty well tonight. "Her ranking obviously doesn't tell the full story. "She's very powerful. "Fears of failing is a big one. "You feel kind of lost. "I don't think you recognise it right away.

Victoria Azarenka said changing her mindset and conquering her anxiety had paved the way for her return to the semi-finals of the Australian Open after a ...

"There's sometimes an incredible desire for a villain and a hero story that has to be written. 'Compassionate' was a hard word for me to understand." "I kept trying to go a step forward, another challenge. Accepting the fear that I have. Accepting the anxiety that I have. "I was at the point where I couldn't find anything I feel good about myself, not even one sentence.

Melbourne: Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka is back in the semifinals after a 10-year gap, defeating No.3 seed American Jessica Pegula ...

Anything the No.3 seed tried; Azarenka seemed a step ahead. After such a fiercely contested opening set, Azarenka went from strength to strength in the second as Pegula ran out of ideas. Despite Azarenka soaring 5-2 up, Pegula dug deep, stepping into rip on the return to erase two set points for 5-4. Pegula connected with a highlight-reel backhand pass under pressure, however, Azarenka consolidated a 3-0 lead in just 12 minutes of clinical hitting. Tuesday’s result is Azarenka’s first Top 5 win at a major since defeating Maria Sharapova in the 2012 US Open semifinals. “It feels like there’s still a long way to go, to be honest.”

Two-time former champion Victoria Azarenka ended a 10-year wait to return to the Australian Open semi-finals with a straight-sets victory over Jessica ...

I played with a lot of fear, a lot of anxiety. I worked a lot on my mindset. Pegula had reached the quarter-finals without dropping a set but was again unable to get beyond that stage, falling to her fifth consecutive defeat, including three in a row in Melbourne.

Victoria Azarenka showed glimpses of the form that took her to the 2012 and 2013 Australian Open titles with a vintage display to reach the semi-finals on ...

"Of course, I was nervous, particularly in the last game, but I'm happy that I managed my emotions. I played really well today." "I think until a certain point, it was very competitive, very good battle. "I'm feeling really good, to be honest, really happy with my level and how I compete and I'm looking forward to the semi-finals here in Australia the first time." "I feel like you want to show your best tennis in front of the best and I hope I did that and you guys enjoyed watching me because I really tried my best," she added. The 33-year-old from Belarus was aggression personified in the match but conceded that it was "nerve-racking" to play in front of Rod Laver, the Australian great after whom the main showcourt is named.

Two-times champion Victoria Azarenka toppled third seed Jessica Pegula 6-4, 6-1 to reach the Australian Open semi-finals.

[Azarenka’s title here in 2012](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/jan/28/victoria-azarenka-wins-australian-open) proved a defining moment in her career as she reached No 1 and embarked on a 26-match winning streak before [succesfully defending her title](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/jan/26/victoria-azarenka-australian-open-2013). This is the second time she has reached the quarter-final of a grand slam since 2016 and her second slam semi-final since 2013. Since then she has worked on learning how to process the emotions and thoughts she has in high-pressure, high-stress situations. I learned how to start to build a process that is step by step instead of jumping to conclusions in the situation, jumping to a result or to the goal, and really focusing on step by step, which is pretty hard to do. After taking maternity leave in 2016 and giving birth to her son, Leo, she struggled with personal issues, including a custody battle, and failed to consistently rediscover her level of old. Azarenka attributes some of her recent problems to nerves and anxiety that followed her on-court last season. That was kind of a very tough moment for me.” But in an arena of great importance to Azarenka’s career, the pressure she imposed overwhelmed Pegula. “She did exactly what she wanted to do,’’ Pegula said. It’s the right way to do it.’” Azarenka prowled inside the baseline, relentlessly taking the ball early and she imposed incessant, suffocating pressure. I was like: ‘You’re doing the right thing.

Victoria Azarenka of Belarus reacts after defeating Jessica Pegula of the U.S. in their quarterfinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in ...

“I was thinking about it. “There is sometimes, I don’t know, an incredible desire for a villain and a hero story that has to be written. I just felt a little bit overwhelmed realising that I’m one step from the final and nerves got into me for sure.”

Victoria Azarenka showed glimpses of the form that took her to the 2012 and 2013 Australian Open titles with a vintage display to reach the semi-finals.

"Obviously not the way you want to finish a match," said the 18th seed, who will meet third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas for a place in the final. "I feel like you want to show your best tennis in front of the best and I hope I did that and you guys enjoyed watching me because I really tried my best," she added. The 33-year-old Belarusian said that it was "nerve-wracking" to compete in front of Australian great Rod Laver on the main showcourt named in his honour.

Former world No 1 learns "to accept the fear that I have" as her comeback gathers pace in Melbourne.

A three-time runner-up at the US Open, most recently in 2020, Azarenka has always played most effectively on hard courts, and that showed again on this evening. She often looked into the stands at her coach, Davis Witt, to say something, including one exclamation about the ball speed: “It's so ... On Wednesday, Sabalenka will play unseeded Donna Vekic in the quarterfinals, while No 30 Karolina Pliskova faces unseeded Magda Linette. Khachanov will face No 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas, a 6-3, 7-6 (2), 6-4 winner over Jiri Lehecka, for a berth in the men's final. “Leo doesn't really care so much that I'm playing here. “I was at the point where I couldn't find anything that I feel good about myself. When everything comes there at a high-pressure moment, high-stress moment, weird emotions come on the court. I think it builds up until you hit kind of a pretty bad spot where nothing kind of makes sense. After some misses, Pegula would sigh, roll her eyes, slump her shoulders. “I don't think that one goes without the other. are you thinking about on the court?''' “I don't think you recognie it right away.