By Erik Gudris / September 4, 2013
Victoria Azarenka and Flavia Pennetta secured straight sets wins to advance into Friday's US Open
semifinals.
Photo Credit: AP
One was expected to get there. The other is something of a pleasant surprise. Now Victoria Azarenka and Flavia Pennetta will face each other in Friday's US Open semifinals.
Despite not having played her best tennis earlier in the event, No. 2 seed Victoria Azarenka stepped up her game to reach the US Open semifinals for a second straight year.
Facing veteran Daniela Hantuchova in the last quarterfinal to be decided, Azarenka traded early breaks with her opponent before finally holding serve for a 3-1 lead. Azarenka began taking control of the baseline rallies and with a perfect pickup backhand broke again for 5-2.
Azarenka chased down a Hantuchova drop shot before ripping a winner to close out the first set 6-2.
Hantuchova, who was playing in her first major quarterfinal in over five years, didn't go away in the second set. The Slovakian jumped out to a 2-0 lead before Azarenka recovered to even the set at 2-all.
Azarenka once again raised her game to assume a 5-2 lead. But she wasn't able to serve out the match in the next game as she double faulted when down break point. Azarenka didn't let that bother her though as she broke Hantuchova in the last game to seal the 6-2, 6-3 win.
Afterwards, Azarenka talked about being the youngest player in the women's semifinals that features three women over the age of 30.
"I do feel sometimes I'm a little bit older than my age, but actually I just turned 24. It feels like I have been on tour forever coming ‑‑ playing full time on tour since I'm 16. So it's been a long journey, but I still consider myself as a young generation. Let's stay that way."
Pennetta Wins All-Italian Battle to Reach First Ever US Open Semis
Earlier, Pennetta faced off against fellow Italian Fed Cup teammate No. 10 seed Roberta Vinci in the first women's quarterfinal. Both players got off to a nervous start as each trade early breaks. Pennetta managed to secure yet another break later and soon served for the set at 5-4.
Though Vinci would find herself with a break point chance in the next game, she would erase that opportunity by sending a return straight into the net. Pennetta eventually closed out the game and set 6-4.
Pennetta later jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second set. While Pennetta looked more composed and confident as the match progressed, Vinci began rushing through her subsequent service games as if ready to get off court. Pennetta climbed to a 5-1 lead.
With a final precision placed lob on match point, Pennetta closed out the 6-4, 6-1 win to reach the first ever major semifinal of her career.
"I think in the beginning we didn't play good tennis," said Pennetta about facing her friend Vinci. "I was tight; she was tight, also. When I won the first set I just relax a little bit and tried to play better. But the day was tough for both of us."
Azarenka and Pennetta are tied in their career head to head 1-1 with Pennetta having won their last meeting in Dubai back in 2011.
Follow Erik Gudris on Twitter @ATNtennis