Azarenka and Radwanska complete semi-final line-up in İstanbul

Victoria Azarenka

Victoria Azarenka sealed her passage into the semi-finals of the WTA Championships in Turkey, and will end the year as the world’s top-ranked player.

The Belarusian in a winner-takes-all match defeated former French Open champion Li Na 7-6(7-4), 6-4, and will take on Maria Sharapova in tomorrow’s semis, but, more importantly, she is going to be the world No.1 come the end of the WTA season.

Azarenka, who began 2012 by lifting her maiden Grand Slam at the Australian Open- will be facing the opponent she comfortably beat in that final, this time in İstanbul, and against Sharapova, is set for another battle against the world No.2.

Agnieszka Radwanska set up a semi-final showdown against Serena Williams after getting the better of Sara Errani 6-7(8-6), 7-5, 6-4.

Radwanska in her previous match against Sharapova played beyond 2am local time, and lost, and the Pole already with one win to her name in the event wasn’t going to let her opportunity slip, as this year’s Wimbledon runner-up came from a set down to complete the victory in over three hours, coming as close to two games away from losing the tie.

“After my last match I wasn't that fresh, so I was afraid of what would happen,” said Radwanska on court after the win. “I don't know how I did it today, especially after almost three and a half hours on the court, but I'm so happy. Now I'll try to do a lot of treatment to stay in one piece.”

Sharapova matched Williams and secured a third win from three outings, cruising to a 6-0, 6-3 victory over former US Open champion and alternate Sam Stosur.

Sharapova, the reigning French Open champion, was already through to the semis heading into this encounter, but the Russian was determined not to lose, and after getting a bagel in the first set in over 20 minutes, she got the job done in quick-time despite a spirited Stosur fight back in the second set,

“After a really long match in my previous round, I was just trying to be really aggressive today and not spend as much time as I did the other day,” said Sharapova. “I knew coming in I was already going to be in the semis, but I didn't want to lose. I wanted to do the right things today and I did them.”

Asked about her final group match being a “dead rubber”, Sharapova replied: “They're not so dead - you're playing in front of thousands of people. There are things you play for. I don't want to just play tennis - I play to win.

"I wanted to try to replicate a match that matters - in my mind, it does. I never want to go into a match when I'm in a competitive tournament atmosphere and feel like there's nothing on the line. That would never get me going.”

The WTA Championships began with the world’s top eight players, and now, the semi-finals will be competed by the world’s top four.

İsmail Vedat

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