With Little Steps, Victoria Azarenka Is Making a Deep Run

Azarenka has taken a more process-oriented approach than in the past. But the outcomes have been good, too, as shes in an Australian Open semifinal for the first time since she won it all in 2013.

MELBOURNE, Australia Dinner had arrived in the player restaurant for Jessica Pegulas coach, David Witt, but it did not come with a spot in the Australian Open semifinals.

Pegula, who was the highest-seeded player left in the womens singles tournament at No. 3, had just been beaten convincingly, 6-4, 6-1, on Tuesday by her friend Victoria Azarenka in Rod Laver Arena.

Vika played pretty well, someone said, using Azarenkas nickname.

No, Witt replied quickly. Vika played beyond well. We werent expecting that at all. That was her best match in a long time.

Hardcourts, like the ones at Melbourne Park, have long been Azarenkas happiest hunting grounds. A former world No. 1, she won back-to-back Australian Opens in 2012 and 2013 and reached the U.S. Open final in both those seasons, losing classic matches to Serena Williams each time. In 2020, a resurgent Azarenka beat Williams in a U.S. Open semifinal and gave Naomi Osaka quite a tussle before losing in the final.