Azarenka makes first Miami semi-final since 2018

Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, the No 27 seed, won against Kazakh Yulia Putintseva 7-6 (4), 1-6, 6-3 to reach the semi-finals of the Miami Open at the Hard Rock Stadium on Tuesday evening.

The victory sees Azarenka return to the semi-finals in Miami for the first time since 2018, with the Belarusian having won the tournament in 2009, 2011 and 2016. She also extends her head-to-head against Putintseva to 3-0.

“It was a fight, Yulia played great, she’s in such great form and I had to dig deep,” said Azarenka, who came within one point of losing the opening set against Putintseva. “I’m really happy that I was able to regroup, reset, come out and play aggressive.”

“I’ve played on tour for 20 years and I still feel like I’m improving,” declared Azarenka.

As for her chances of going all the way this year and claiming a fourth title in Miami, Azarenka isn’t getting ahead of herself just yet.

“Well, all those three wins were not here, so that would be pretty special to make the change for, you know, a new facility,” Azarenka shared. “But yeah, I feel like it’s a bit too far ahead to talk about that. Still in the semifinal match, and with my experience I should know better to stay present.”

Azarenka, ranked No 32, will face Kazakh Elena Rybakina, the No 4 seed, next.

Ahead of her victory, the 34-year-old Belarusian beat American Peyton Stearns (7-5, 3-6, 6-4), Chinese Qinwen Zheng, the No 7 seed (6-4, 7-5) and No 24 seed Katie Boulter (7-5, 6-1).

Putintseva, ranked No 68, defeated Spaniard Cristina Bucsa (6-2, 3-6, 6-4), Russian Liudmila Samsonova, the No 13 seed (6-1, 4-6, 6-3), Belgian lucky loser Greet Minnen (6-2, 2-6, 6-4) and Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina, the No 32 seed (6-4, 7-6 (5)) earlier in the tournament.

Miami WTA 1000, other quarter-final results (Hard Rock Stadium, hard, USD 8,770,480):

• Ekaterina Alexandrova vs. Jessica Pegula
• Caroline Garcia vs. Danielle Collins

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