Nobody expected such a knockout against the Belgian. Wika was the favorite, but Mertens also used the time of the pandemic quite well and, after the resumption of the games, did quite, quite. She reached the final in Prague, where she lost to Simona Halep. Later to the Western & Southern Open semi-finals in New York to which Naomi Osace resisted. It seemed the same could be the case with Azarenka now. There was no.
The Belarusian woman played her easiest match in the tournament. Even in the first round with Barbara Haas, it was not so easy and pleasant. And comparing to how Iga Świątek pressed her in the third round, it can only be said that she was tortured with a Pole. This time, the tennis player from Leuven did not put up with her completely. It was excellent news for the star born in Minsk. For regeneration before the battle of the 1/2 final with her friend and at the same time great rival Serena Williams, she will have only one day …
It will be a battle of two moms who are at completely different points of care. The American wants to improve Margaret Court’s record, win two more Grand Slam tournaments and say goodbye to tennis. Azarenka does not have such far-reaching plans at the moment and after a long break and stabilization of her personal life, she just wants to enjoy the game. She is not as wealthy as Williams, she does not earn $ 35 million a year, but on the other hand, she has already won enough on the courts to rent a house like her rival during the tournament. And this season, you had to pay much more than usual for it …
The ladies will meet for the 23rd time. So far, Serena has won much more often, with 18 matches in her favor. Three of them took place at Flushing Meadows and the US team turned out to be better in all of them. In the finals in 2012–13, we watched the dramatic three hundred coins full of twists. The last duel the ladies played in Indian Wells last season. Both were then in much lower form than they are today. The older of the titled champions then won in California.
– I love competing with the best and Serena is the best. When you see her on the other side of the grid, you discover yourself. Then you really play tennis. There is no one tougher than her. How will I get ready for the game to come? I’m sure I’m not just going to mention what was, because my time is too precious for that. I don’t just want to go back to the old events, although of course many good moments, even though I lost more often, I remember from the history of our meetings. I learned one from this fight. Matches never end. You can win or lose one, but it actually continues. It translates into the next – said Azarenka announcing the next duel.
– I am ready for this challenge. To get back to the same level as I used to, I trained very hard. It’s so hard to know that matches in big tournaments will be easier than training. And if I was able to bring myself to a tremendous effort there, then during the meetings this effort will be lower. Knowing that your body is ready for everything, the game becomes easier later on, emphasized the Belarusian woman.
The taste of her rivalry with Williams is also added by the fact that both players’ coaches have ties to Patrick Mouratoglou’s academy. Serena’s coach is its owner and creator, with Azarenka working with Dorian Descloix, also a friend of Gael Monfils at one time. So they too will experience great emotions. Who will come out victorious from this clash? Will Azarenka break the complex of determined, but probably only “good” disposition of Williams in a sensational form? We’ll see …
–
