Their last meeting did not go her way, but there was no stopping former World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka this time as the Belarusian beat the Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber 6-2, 7-5 to reach the final of the 2016 Miami Open on Thursday. Only 2006 winner Svetlana Kuznetsova now stands between Azarenka and her third Miami crown – an achievement that will see her becoming just the third woman to complete the prestigious Indian Wells-Miami double.
The marquee semi-final match of the day started in Azarenka’s favour with the 26-year-old grabbing the first set 6-2 with consummate ease. The level and intensity from both the women escalated in the second set which witnessed five consecutive breaks of serve.
It was once again the two-time Australian Open winner who nudged ahead 5-3. But her service woes showed up which helped stage a mini comeback from the German World No. 3.
The undeterred Azarenka broke back once again to have a 6-5 lead and this time she did not fail to serve out the match.
In the other ladies semi-final, two-time Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova beat Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland, 7-5 6-3 to have a shot at the title she won at Crandon Park 10 years ago.
Kyrgios downs Raonic, Houdini escape for Nishikori
At 20 years of age, Nick Kyrgios is already proving himself to be a worthy contender for the Tour’s most elite titles. The Australian saw off Indian Wells runner-up Milos Raonic 6-4, 7-6(4) to reach the biggest semi-final of his career and, in the process, also sealed himself a place in the world’s top 20.It also makes him the youngest man in the top 20 for seven years and the first Australian in the Miami semi-finals since Lleyton Hewitt in 2002.
In the last-four battle on Friday evening, he will square off against the sixth seed Kei Nishikori who saved as many as five match points to edge past Gael Monfils, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(3).
