Australian Open, Day 11

LADIES SEMI-FINAL


Boy oh boy. My oh my. Dear oh dear. WHAT a day of tennis. 


If you'd have asked me yesterday who would come through - who would be playing in the finals - I would have said Clijsters and Kvitova. Boy my dear, was I wrong.


Clijsters and Azarenka duked out the first semi of the day and what a match it was. Clijsters has now been involved in the two best women's matches of the tournament - against Li Na and now with Azarenka. This was a battle against the Belarusian who has been playing beautifully this championships. Azarenka won the first set after several breaks of serve to both players, eventually taking it 6-4. Clijsters rallied in the second set and blew Azarenka off the court wining it to 1. Into the third set they went and some stunning tennis was produced. It was a real tussle back and forth with some outstanding play from both women. Azarenka was the first to blink as Clijsters broke and looked good for the match. The defending champion stamping out the young pretender. Surely with all her experience she would now take the momentum and run away from Azarenka? 


No. Azarenka fought back then broke Clijsters and served out to reach her first grand slam final. The third seed wept with delight when Clijsters pushed her shot long on match point. 


The Belaruisan will meet Sharapova on Saturday who defeated Wimbledon champion and my tip for the title, Kvitova. It was another amazing match and a real pleasure to watch. Sharapova came charging out of the gates and wrapped up the first set against a nervous-looking Kvitova six games to two. Kvitova hit straight back in the second set releasing a series of powerful winners and some cute drop shots, and no matter how much Sharapova screamed she couldn't find a way through. It was another third set for the women's semis this year and both women were feeling the strain. It was Kvitova who took the early initiative and broke Sharapova with a shriek. (I understand she's saying 'come on' in Czech.)


Sharapova was having none of it however and she broke back to draw level in the final set. A brilliant game against the Kvitova serve gave her a break point of her own and she didn't let it go, beating the Czech 6-2 3-6 6-4. 


There's no denying it, the final is going to be loud. Both women are well known for their screams - personally I dislike Sharapova's more, I feel like Azarenka's is less put on, but I know many who can't stand the Belarusian's wail. I wonder if they'll annoy each other? We shall see.


I'll keep you blogged...