My preview for the first women’s semi-final between Na Li and Eugenie Bouchard can be found here.  The second one promises to be a close one with both players gunning for a first ever appearance in an Australian Open final.

Agnieszka Radwanska

I was really, really shocked waking up to the news of Agnieszka Radwanska‘s victory over Victoria Azarenka, 6-1 5-7 6-0.  The head-to-head was so heavily in favour of Azarenka and Radwanska had really struggled to impose herself in any of their recent encounters.  This win was all about Radwanska, who delivered one of her finest ever performances, staying consistent from the baseline and displaying all the trickery that has seen her coined by some members of the tennis media as the ninja.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWO2ypPn2po

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8-L57lMlIg

In the first quarter-final on Wednesday, Dominika Cibulkova thrashed Simona Halep, 6-3 6-0.  The way in which Cibulkova has progressed through the draw has been quite startling.  Apart from one three setter over Maria Sharapova in the 4th round, she has been absolutely clinical earning three bagel sets and three breadstick sets in victories over Francesca Schiavone, Stefanie Voegele and Carla Suarez Navarro.

I discussed the Cibulkova v Radwanska head-to-head in yesterday’s preview, unaware that both would win and make the semi-finals!  Cibulkova suffered a crushing 6-0 6-0 loss to Radwanska in the final of Sydney last year and I do believe this loss damaged her confidence for the first half of 2013.  In Stanford, she faced up to Radwanska again in the final and showed an incredible amount of character, coming back from losing the first set to power to an aggressive three set win,3-6 6-4 6-4.  Radwanska did win their most recent match though in Tokyo, 6-3 6-4.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmnXz-zoF3Q

I think this could be a brilliant contest.  There will be nerves of course, but both have played with a great deal of confidence this week.  Radwanska’s loss at the hands to Sabine Lisicki in that sensational Wimbledon semi-final from last year was perhaps the most crushing defeat of her career so far.  I didn’t think such an opportunity like this for Radwanska would arise again where the big three were no longer in the draw.  I don’t think she will let another prime opportunity like this slip through her grasp.

Prediction: Radwanska to beat Cibulkova in 3 sets