By Chris Oddo | Thursday March 17, 2016

 

Victoria Azarenka shellacked Magdalena Rybarikova to reach the semis at the BNP Paribas Open.

Photo Source: Harry How/Getty

One needn’t look back very far to discover the last time that Victoria Azarenka double-bageled an opponent. It was just two months ago in the first round of the Australian Open. That impressive beginning led to eventual disappointment (Azarenka fell to Angelique Kerber in the quarterfinals), but Azarenka is hoping that her latest shellacking takes her further.

The Belarussian’s 6-0, 6-0 beatdown of world No. 97 Magdalena Rybarikova sets up a semifinal with Karolina Pliskova on Friday night. It also sends a strong message to the field that she is fit and playing to the best of her abilities.

“I feel that the most important thing for me right now is feeling that I'm improving from match to match and feeling healthy that knowing that when I go out there I give myself the best opportunity to win, which wasn't the case last two years,” Azarenka told reporters after her win.

Azarenka improved her 2016 record to 14-1 and could reach the top-10 for the first time since 2014 if she can win her second title here at the BNP Paribas Open.

The No. 13 seed dropped a tight three-setter to Pliskova in their last meeting (2015 Brisbane) and the pair are tied 1-1 in their lifetime head-to-head.

Azarenka won 20 of 24 first-serve points and has now won all six sets she has played against the Slovakian. Rybarikova, bothered by a leg injury over the course of the match, earned four break points in the second set but could not convert.

“It doesn't feel great knowing that your opponent struggled, because I have been on the opposite side of the net like this,” Azarenka said. “But, you know, you're out there to win so you can't really feel bad about it.”