Once a top contender on WTA tour, former World No. 1 Serena Williams has been looking more determined than ever to earn back her status, as an indomitable force. For the second consecutive time, former World No 1 Serena Williams registered a three sets win after losing the first set. Last night she overcame Lucie Safarova challenge in three set with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 scoreline and secured her berth in the semi-final of the 2011 Rogers Cup, a WTA premier event being played here in Toronto, Canada.
In the semi-final, Serena will take on World No. 4 Victoria Azarenka, who overwhelmed Kazakh giant-killer Galina Voskoboeva in straight sets 6-1, 6-2 to come this far in the tournament. Serena Williams is most certainly a ‘woman on a mission’, a mission to re-establish herself as the world’s best female tennis player and in doing so, she has taken a huge step forward with a place in the semi-final in Toronto. Williams already has a title from Stanford after her return from the 49 week injury hiatus and with most of the top players already out of the draw, Williams has once again emerged as a favourite to win here on Canadian soil. Serena has 9-2 win-loss record this year as she has already missed a greater part of the season.
Interestingly, Azarenka hogged all the limelight two years ago in Miami, when she beat the then No.1 Serena Williams to claim title glory. After leaving the Crandon Park this year with yet another winner’s trophy, Azarenka proved that her win in 2009 was not a mere fluke. The Belarusian star also reached the finals in Madrid and picked up her second title of the year in Marbella. With her first ever Grand Slam semifinal finish at Wimbledon, Azarenka has reached new heights in her career. Azarenka has a 38-12 win-loss record this year with two WTA titles to her name, so far in 2011.
In head-to-head, Serena apparently leads with a 4-1 against Azarenka. Last time they met three years back in Aussie Open third round, where Serena subdued Azarenka in straight sets. Get ready for another enthralling battle between these two defiant fighters, who like to dominate the proceedings from the word ‘Go.’