By Erik Gudris / Friday, January 3, 2014

 

In what could be the Australian Open final in a few weeks time, Victoria Azarenka and Serena Williams will face off in the Brisbane International finals.

Photo Credit: AP

In a potential preview of the Australian Open women's final, Victoria Azarenka and Serena Williams secured their place in Saturday's Brisbane International finals.

But both women had to endure tough tests in their respective semifinals to get there.

Though Williams held a 14-2 lifetime edge against her opponent Maria Sharapova, it meant nothing as their semi proved to be a loud and contentious battle. While Williams' big serve got her out of early break point trouble, it didn't stop Sharapova from eventually breaking the No. 1 seed midway through the opening set.

But after Williams broke Sharapova again to open up a 5-2 lead, the Russian promptly handed away the set with a double fault down set point.

Undeterred, Sharapova jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the second set. But Williams responded by breaking back and pulling even at 3-all.

With their rallies getting louder as each tried to secure an advantage, eventually a tiebreak was needed to settle things.

Neither player would budge from trying to win the breaker, even after Williams held a 4-2 lead. A pair of untimely double faults from the American allowed Sharapova the chance to serve out the set. But Williams unloaded on a forehand crosscourt winner to set up her first match point.

Sharapova would save it with a smash winner and face yet another match point against her. But Williams would make no mistake on her third match point as she sent down a thunderous ace to close out the hard fought 6-2, 7-6(7) victory. 

"The quality of the match was very high, especially from Maria's end, so it was good for me to come up with a win in that match," Williams said afterwards to WTA.com.

Azarenka Outlasts Jankovic in Three Sets

Despite a ragged start and nervy finish, Victoria Azarenka battled her way past No. 4 seed Jelena Jankovic in a roller coaster semifinal.

Azarenka came out flat in the opening stages as she was unable to hold serve during the entire first set. The No. 2 seed mistimed several shots that should have been clear winners. That helped Jankovic run away with the set 6-1.

Yet the contest was hardly over as Azarenka dug in to finally hold serve and then break Jankovic to claim a 2-0 lead in the second set. Though each woman traded breaks, Jankovic's level began to drop.

Though Jankovic pulled within a game of Azarenka, it was the Belarusian who fired down an ace on set point to close it out 6-3 and force a decider.

Azarenka soon put on a display of well-executed aggression backed by several forehand winners. Opening up a 5-2 lead in the third set, Azarenka looked poised to end the match on her terms. But a nervy service game from Azarenka, punctuated by a double fault on break point, let Jankovic back in. The Serbian cracked a backhand winner in the next game and soon found herself just trailing 4-5.

A tight looking Azarenka, again trying to serve it out, set up her first match point. But she could only watch as Jankovic erased it with a bold forehand winner of her own. Azarenka struck a backhand winner to create a second match point, but Jankovic could not save this one as the Serbian netted a final forehand.

A relieved and energized Azarenka celebrated the 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory.

“No matter who I play it’s going to be a very, very big challenge. That’s what you want in the final," Azarenka said about her upcoming final.

Williams leads the head-to-head with Azarenka 13-3, but each woman split four matches last season.