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| Staring Down Trouble, Azarenka Advances to Semifinals | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| MELBOURNE, Australia — In earlier times and moods, Victoria Azarenka might have been the one to crack at the end of a rough-and-tumble first set full of momentum shifts and grueling rallies. | MELBOURNE, Australia — In earlier times and moods, Victoria Azarenka might have been the one to crack at the end of a rough-and-tumble first set full of momentum shifts and grueling rallies. |
| But on Wednesday, she was simply too consistent, composed and relentless for Svetlana Kuznetsova as she wore down the powerful, experienced Russian and then pulled away to win their Australian Open quarterfinal, 7-5, 6-1. | But on Wednesday, she was simply too consistent, composed and relentless for Svetlana Kuznetsova as she wore down the powerful, experienced Russian and then pulled away to win their Australian Open quarterfinal, 7-5, 6-1. |
| “I’m glad I could produce my good tennis when it was needed,” said Azarenka, who will face the winner of Wednesday’s all-American quarterfinal between Serena Williams and the teenager Sloane Stephens. | “I’m glad I could produce my good tennis when it was needed,” said Azarenka, who will face the winner of Wednesday’s all-American quarterfinal between Serena Williams and the teenager Sloane Stephens. |
| Azarenka, a 23-year-old from Belarus who won this title last year, remains the world’s No. 1 player, at least for another few days. But her march through the draw has not been as statistically impressive as the likes of Maria Sharapova, who has dropped just nine games in five matches. | Azarenka, a 23-year-old from Belarus who won this title last year, remains the world’s No. 1 player, at least for another few days. But her march through the draw has not been as statistically impressive as the likes of Maria Sharapova, who has dropped just nine games in five matches. |
| Azarenka was in trouble against the young American Jamie Hampton, dropping a set in the third round and she was in trouble once more early against Kuznetsova, falling behind by 1-4 in the opening set. | Azarenka was in trouble against the young American Jamie Hampton, dropping a set in the third round and she was in trouble once more early against Kuznetsova, falling behind by 1-4 in the opening set. |
| Kuznetsova is ranked just 75th and is still working her way back after a knee injury that spoiled most of her 2012 season. But in an era in which Williams, Azarenka and Sharapova have clearly separated themselves from the pack, the 27-year-old Kuznetsova remains one of the game’s most dangerous outsiders: a two-time Grand Slam singles champion with an imposing physique and an unusually well-stocked tennis tool kit that includes — besides the requisite power — drop shots, sharp angles, crisp backhand slices and that increasingly rare thing, a reliable overhead. | Kuznetsova is ranked just 75th and is still working her way back after a knee injury that spoiled most of her 2012 season. But in an era in which Williams, Azarenka and Sharapova have clearly separated themselves from the pack, the 27-year-old Kuznetsova remains one of the game’s most dangerous outsiders: a two-time Grand Slam singles champion with an imposing physique and an unusually well-stocked tennis tool kit that includes — besides the requisite power — drop shots, sharp angles, crisp backhand slices and that increasingly rare thing, a reliable overhead. |
| “I know what kind of tennis she is capable to produce, so I was ready for it,” Azarenka said. “At the beginning, it took a little bit of adjustment because she has such a different game, but I’m glad I could turn around, take control in my hands and really fight through.” | “I know what kind of tennis she is capable to produce, so I was ready for it,” Azarenka said. “At the beginning, it took a little bit of adjustment because she has such a different game, but I’m glad I could turn around, take control in my hands and really fight through.” |
| At its best, which was the second half of the first set, this was a terrific match, full of velocity, variety and intensity as both women attacked second serves, solved conundrums posed by the other’s strengths and raised both the quality and, yes, the volume. | At its best, which was the second half of the first set, this was a terrific match, full of velocity, variety and intensity as both women attacked second serves, solved conundrums posed by the other’s strengths and raised both the quality and, yes, the volume. |
| The extended wails that accompany Azarenka’s elegant strokes are her trademark and a magnet for criticism in the tennis community and, though Kuznetsova kept quiet for a while, she eventually began groaning loudly on her own shots. | The extended wails that accompany Azarenka’s elegant strokes are her trademark and a magnet for criticism in the tennis community and, though Kuznetsova kept quiet for a while, she eventually began groaning loudly on her own shots. |
| The women’s tour chief, Stacey Allaster, has announced plans to eventually impose restrictions on such cacophony and to explore the use of an on-court device that could monitor the volume of grunts. There has already been outreach to academies and the junior circuit in an attempt to keep the next generation from sounding like Azarenka and Sharapova. | The women’s tour chief, Stacey Allaster, has announced plans to eventually impose restrictions on such cacophony and to explore the use of an on-court device that could monitor the volume of grunts. There has already been outreach to academies and the junior circuit in an attempt to keep the next generation from sounding like Azarenka and Sharapova. |
| But for now, it continues at the highest level, distracting from the high quality of Azarenka’s tennis. | But for now, it continues at the highest level, distracting from the high quality of Azarenka’s tennis. |
| The key game Wednesday came with Azarenka serving at 4-5 in the opening set. Three times, Kuznetsova pushed her to deuce. Three times, Azarenka thought and played aggressively to avoid a break point. There was a lunging forehand drop volley. There was an ace wide, one of many fine slice serves Azarenka delivered in the deuce court. There was a forehand swing volley winner and ultimately a backhand return in the net from Kuznetsova that allowed Azarenka to even the match at 5-5. | The key game Wednesday came with Azarenka serving at 4-5 in the opening set. Three times, Kuznetsova pushed her to deuce. Three times, Azarenka thought and played aggressively to avoid a break point. There was a lunging forehand drop volley. There was an ace wide, one of many fine slice serves Azarenka delivered in the deuce court. There was a forehand swing volley winner and ultimately a backhand return in the net from Kuznetsova that allowed Azarenka to even the match at 5-5. |
| At this stage, they already had been playing for well over an hour, but Azarenka accelerated, breaking Kuznetsova in the next game with a forehand cross-court winner off a deep shot that brought her big-haired friend, the musician Redfoo, to his feet in the players box. | At this stage, they already had been playing for well over an hour, but Azarenka accelerated, breaking Kuznetsova in the next game with a forehand cross-court winner off a deep shot that brought her big-haired friend, the musician Redfoo, to his feet in the players box. |
| Azarenka then served out the set; a set which required, in total, 1 hour 17 minutes — longer than any of Sharapova’s matches in Melbourne so far. The difference in the second set was as much physical as psychological as Azarenka — fresh and steady in the extended rallies — was simply too much for Kuznetsova to handle at this stage of her comeback. | Azarenka then served out the set; a set which required, in total, 1 hour 17 minutes — longer than any of Sharapova’s matches in Melbourne so far. The difference in the second set was as much physical as psychological as Azarenka — fresh and steady in the extended rallies — was simply too much for Kuznetsova to handle at this stage of her comeback. |
| “The top players you have very small chance to beat them if you are giving away too many opportunities,” Kuznetsova said. | “The top players you have very small chance to beat them if you are giving away too many opportunities,” Kuznetsova said. |
| Azarenka, once a hothead but now a much more settled competitor, knows this very well, and she has now won 12 straight matches in Melbourne. | Azarenka, once a hothead but now a much more settled competitor, knows this very well, and she has now won 12 straight matches in Melbourne. |