Veteran Victoria Azarenka stuns Jessica Pegula in straight sets at Australian Open
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 24: Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in action against Jessica Pegula of the United States during her quarter-final match on Day 9 of the 2023 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 24, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia (Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images) Photo: Getty
Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka has turned back the clock to stun world No.3 Jessica Pegula in straight sets and reach her third Melbourne Park semi-final.
Azarenka, the 2012 and 2013 Open champion, defeated close friend Pegula 6-4 6-1 to reach the final four in Melbourne for the first time since sealing back-to-back triumphs 10 years ago.
The No.24 seed, who is also a three-time US Open finalist, teed up a tantalising clash with Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, who earlier easily accounted for Jelena Ostapenko 6-2 6-4.
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“It hurts to beat her (Pegula) because I always want her to do well,” Azarenka said.
“She’s been playing amazing, very consistent and I knew from the first point I had to bring it.
“I just wanted to try to stay there, take opportunities because she was going to take everything if I don’t try to win myself. I’m very proud that I executed my game plan really well.
“It’s so amazing to be in the semi-final of another grand slam.”
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Plenty has changed for Azarenka in the 10 years since her last semi-final in Melbourne – she is now 33 and a mother, but her aggressive baseline play was a reminder of her past triumphs.
The upset means all of the top four seeds – Iga Swiatek, Ons Jabeur, Pegula and Caroline Garcia – have failed to reach the semi-finals in Melbourne, while world No.5 Aryna Sabalenka is the only top-20 player left.
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Pegula, 28, hadn’t dropped a set in Melbourne before facing Azarenka and had appeared primed to kick on and reach a semi-final at a slam for the first time.
But Azarenka worked over the American while Pegula struggled to get her serve going as she made a third straight quarter-final exit at Melbourne Park.
Azarenka raced away to a 3-0 lead in the first set but struggled to close it out, requiring five set points across three games to claim it as Pegula found a foothold in the match.
But the Belarusian needed just 33 minutes to cruise through the second set and seal an ultimately comfortable victory.
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