Neither player had lost a three set match in 2012 so something had to budge. The final set had a raw intensity to it with some battering rallies and a real desire in the eyes of both to win. Azarenka had switched her A-game on and was holding with ease, meanwhile Sharapova was forced to deuce in every one of her service games. Last year, I think Azarenka would have got frustrated at missing out on the break that she would have crumbled, but her mental game has improved so much this year. She finally made her presence felt as she broke at 5-4 to win in 2 hours and 42 minutes. Sharapova produced far more winners (44 to Azarenka’s 19), but ultimately some poor returning in the final set and and an ever-strengthening Azarenka wore Sharapova down. A competitive and intense semi-final that was best watched on mute too…
Highlights from the Azarenka/Sharapova match
2012 was a particularly special year with the added excitement of the Olympics. My favourite womens match of the tournament was the quarter-final between Victoria Azarenka and Angelique Kerber. The crowd was extremely sparse to start with, perhaps because Andy Murray was on number one court, but the few who turned up saw a real treat. Under the roof, the pair exchanged titanic baseline rallies, some of the best exchanges I have seen all year as both players dragged each other across every centimetre of grass. Kerber gave her all and played to the maximum of her ability to keep Azarenka within touching distance. Eventually something had to give and Azarenka, who was in fine form, closed out the first set, 6-4.
Kerber remained competitive throughout the second set, but Azarenka always had her head in front and was that bit stronger and more consistent. The second serve is certainly an area that Kerber needs to work on in the off-season if she is to stay in the top 5 next year. Azarenka served for the match at 6-4 5-3, but Kerber wasn’t ready to go down without a fight. She had luck on her side as two outrageous let cords helped her to save match points. The momentum looked to be swinging the way of Kerber, but write off Azarenka at your own peril. She put the memory of match points behind her to seize control once more and propel herself towards an eventual bronze medal. A great match demonstrated by both hitting more winners than unforced errors and not the last we will see from the Azarenka/Kerber match-up in my countdown…
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| If you are in the UK, you should be able to watch highlights from Azarenka/Kerber on the BBC Sport Website. |
13. Serena Williams d. Zheng Jie, 6-7 (5) 6-2 9-7 (Wimbledon, R3)
I thought Zheng might falter in the final set, but she started with aggressive intent. I really admire her tenacity on court and she hit some fabulous winners to maintain that one step ahead of Serena. Serena was four points from losing the match on three occasions as she served to stay in the tournament. She was never overrawed though as she raced through her serving games, one of those taking just 50 seconds. At 7-7, Serena finally got her act together on the return and let out a huge roar as she broke through. Zheng kept fighting as she saved two match points, one with an beautifully instinctive return, but Serena was not to be denied. The difference between the two in the end was the Serena serve. She was not broken once during the match and lost just 18 out of 98 points on serve. A fantastic grass-court contest…
Highlights from the Serena/Zheng match
12. Victoria Azarenka d. Dominika Cibulkova, 1-6 7-6 (7) 7-5 (Miami, R4)
The Slovakian started to feel the pressure as a host of double faults and unforced errors saw her choke all the good work away. Azarenka would go onto win the second set, but despite her collapse, Cibulkova did not let up. Three times she would find herself a break down in the decider, but three times she broke straight back. The rallies were long and intense, and Cibulkova was still finding more power on her groundies. She hit three times more winners than Azarenka (46 to 15) but the unforced error count was mounting too. Azarenka served for the match at 6-5 where Cibulkova fathomed another break point, but the world number one would stand tall for a remarkable victory in 2 hours and 45 minutes. Azarenka’s streak would end in the next round to Marion Bartoli, but more surprising was that Cibulkova managed to bury her demons and defeat Azarenka when they next met in another intense battle at Roland Garros.
Highlights from the Azarenka/Cibulkova match
The final set saw the highest standard of tennis so far with both playing well at the same time. Azarenka saved an early break point with some really gutsy tennis and then fashioned a break in the next game. It was a real topsy turvy affair as all the games were close and intensely fought. Serena got the score back to 3-2 in her favour, but Azarenka would come back fighting again and earnt the chance to serve out for her first ever US Open title. Unfortunately she threw in an error-strewn game as the nerves of steel that had served her so well, deserted her at the crucial stage. Azarenka gave Serena that opportunity to get back into the final and despite some awesome rallies, Serena forced Azarenka long on match point to win the final in 2 hours and 18 minutes. The final recorded the highest TV audience in the US for a womens final since 2002 and topped the viewing figures for the mens final on the following night. Serena and Azarenka laid down a marker that womens tennis has turned a corner and is well and truly on the way up…
Coming Soon – Part 3 of my favourite WTA matches of 2012 as we move into the top 10!
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