The real challenges were yet to come in the quarterfinals of the Qatar Total Open!
First up was the exciting match between Kvitova and Serena Williams. The American would become the oldest number one with a semifinal spot here at Doha. The match turned out to be a real thriller when Kvitova demonstrated some of her famous (but for long unshowed) forehandkillers and fabulous play at the net! Each took a 6-3 set before a nailbiting third set had to decide everything. The Czech took a 4-1 lead and Serena seemed a shell of herself, fighting a flue apparantly. It was her hunger for that number one spot that made her battle again and wait for Kvitova to pile up the unforced errors. At 5-5, she levelled and immediately broke to capture the win: 3-6, 6-3, 7-5. She was extremely happy and that's still an understatement!
The other quarterfinals weren't as sensational as Serena's victory but definitely showed some quality-tennis. Radwanska defeated good friend Wozniacki in two sets: 6-2, 7-5. Azarenka didn't leave much chance for the Italian Errani: 6-2, 6-2 while Sharapova showed Stosur how it was done: 6-2, 6-4. Check out the highlights here:
So the semifinals featured two mash-ups that we've seen many times before and are quite one-sided. Azarenka had little problems against the defensive game of Radwanska: 6-3, 6-3. The Pole exited Doha at the semifinals of last year in the same fashion.
The other semifinal was a classic Sharapova - Serena match which I always look forward to with much expectations but they seem to disappoint each and every time. The Russian hasn't won against Serena since 2004 (I was shocked about that piece of statistic!) so this time wasn't any different with a 6-3, 6-2 score.
So what about that final then! I've been begging for a Serena - Azarenka battle and surprisingly since the Belarussian is no longer number one, she can beat Williams! She played really strong when battling back a break in the first set and she also had a tremendous start in the third set. The highlights say it all:
It seems quite fair: Serena takes number one (and I think that's what she really came for in Doha) and Azarenka defends her title from last year. I'm so looking forward to the next duel between the two, maybe in Dubai! Keep posted!
So what about that final then! I've been begging for a Serena - Azarenka battle and surprisingly since the Belarussian is no longer number one, she can beat Williams! She played really strong when battling back a break in the first set and she also had a tremendous start in the third set. The highlights say it all:
It seems quite fair: Serena takes number one (and I think that's what she really came for in Doha) and Azarenka defends her title from last year. I'm so looking forward to the next duel between the two, maybe in Dubai! Keep posted!
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