There haven’t been many recently, but one player who has given Serena Williams trouble is Victoria Azarenka, and tomorrow the two Hall of Famers will meet in the Indian Wells final. “I want to have those challenges”, said Azarenka, who defeated Karolina Pliskova in the semifinals.
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Williams span out four games on the bounce to take the first set, and it really looked like Radwanska had gone when Williams sped out to a 3-0 lead. Granted Williams has started slow in a couple of matches, but we can expect her to lift her game to another level.
“Radwanska booked her place in the final after overcoming Belarusian Karolina Pliskova 7-6 1-6 6-2”.
Williams will play her 88th career final after defeating PolandÂ’s Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4 7-6 (7-1) on Saturday.
That scene sparked a lengthy boycott of the tournament by the Williams sisters. “That’s what I tried to do”.
It was a scintillating match of cat and mouse as Radwanska knew she had to come out swinging – breaking Williams in the first game.
Serena is seeking her first title since Cincinnati last summer while Azarenka her second of the year after Brisbane.
Last year, Serena reached the semis before withdrawing with a knee injury. With just one point on the board, Azarenka ripped a devastating victor past Pliskova to bring up the single set point she needed, leaving the Czech deflated. There was certainly little to deflect fans from that prediction, especially after she put out defending champion Simona Halep in straights sets in 68 minutes.
But in Agnieszka Radwanka, WTA Finals champion and world No2 come Monday, Williams had a feisty, crafty and popular opponent. As Pliskova started to tighten up, Azarenka started to hit more freely- swiftly jumping out to a 5-0 lead in the tie-break.
The Pole had a chance to win just her second career set against Williams when she broke to lead 6-5, but could not close out. Radwanska was playing so well in the middle of the second set that it appeared for a while they were going to need a third. With several big returns, Williams broke back later for 4-all after Radwanska missed a forehand wide. “It’s been a great comeback here in Indian Wells, so I’m excited about that”. After the last final I had here, I never pictured myself being back.
Serena and Radwanska after the match. Only Martina Navratilova has a better winning percentage, but with only 10 matches played and won.
· This is Azarenka’s first Premier Mandatory final since Beijing 2012, when she went on to lift the trophy.
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“At 34 years, six months Williams is the oldest women’s finalist in Indian Wells’ history, beating the record of Martina Navratilova who was one month younger when she won the crown in 1991”.
