Victoria Azarenka v Agnieszka Radwanska Full Match | Australian Open 2012 Quarterfinal

that's not what you want to do start off a match already obviously few nerves in a big match a little shaky for agesa here first break of serve in a big match like this a quarterfinal is often very significant it can set the whole trend of the match [Applause] 15 well you've got basically a little synopsis of the match right there this is what ransin are trying to do soak up all these ground strokes all this power from across the net and then really you a way hope asara over presses oh 15 one feature of the belarussian play particularly at this event has been great self discipline on what ball to really lean on when to go for the winner and she'll need that discipline out here this afternoon well she's got a great opportunity to get an early break here she takes at the first opportunity so very quick start for the number three [Applause] seed 15 she's very flat I have to say r vancea he Asar anchor will be really eager to capitalize on this average start from her opponent [Applause] done a lot ofka radansa matches and I I feel like I can read her quite well and I have to say I'm not sure she's fully mobile out here I do feel that that uh that injury that she's clearly carrying is affecting her at the moment yeah Pi he was a bit tentative it would appear moving there in that R and she's got no spark or energy better the moment either no it's is it's almost a lot of uncertainty it's it's tough mentally to play with injury but really rans is one of the quickest women out there and no she's she's not letting uh she's not at full speed that's very clear 40 [Applause] [Applause] I'm the on point so far redansa doing better in that rally pretty warm conditions today here in Melbourne on Laver Arena top temperature forecast for 34 working your way gradually into the match [Applause] just got a look at her coach who is the Polish Fed Cup captain Thomas wosi who started advising her and helping her after Wimbledon last year her dad has been the coach for all her career and he still helps her when she's back in Poland but he's not traveling anymore and I think she feels uh bringing in Thomas has really helped her but I have to tell you if she cannot move freely speed is one of her main strengths she has no shot out here unfortunately this is missed a couple of opportunities here uh as a ranker it's tough for as a ranker because she's not getting a lot of pace ranska with a counter punching style also likes to to float as well and to chip some of these returns and as a rank is going have to be the one constantly creating Pace making the making the play out here Advantage one of the best shots that one normally riding it all the way and it just fell wide [Applause] game number well after a lengthy battle two as AER hold serve clever little drop shot so she's obviously going to exploit that possible injury that her opponent has but also with aarka that's part of her game anyway and it's a great contrast isn't it to the big blows from the back of the court and a lovely change of pace very good control off that backhand side well is the number three seed here [Applause] can get a bit emotional at times when the matches get a bit tight 50 oh she's talked a lot about that her coach who she's been working with the Frenchman for a couple of years Samuel sumik has really helped to get a handle on that the bad emotions she talks about like there little demons in there she's uh she's really come on on that front just get the sense that rad vka might want to take it on a little more uh out here this afternoon because I do feel that she is hampered by that uh slight leg injury 14 lovely touch and hold serve for the first time looking into the Sun but it's one two a lovely little sliding approach shot there 15 good to show that she's got uh some variety of shots herself rather than just the power [Applause] she's always had a fantastic back and I remember actually here in the Juniors watching her many years ago and uh she was a she's there's not much of her now as a ranker but she was an absolute W of a young young girl but had just has a wonderful instinctive back and it's always looked like that but you actually watched it was back in 2005 won the Australian Open Juniors that year that's what she does so well beautiful smooth move up to the ball early take last year I really felt at the start of last year the first six months that rad Vana was starting to drift away from the top 10 players just being outp powerered on a regular basis and one of the things she's done to combat that is to become a more aggressive player herself switch coaches changed things up a little [Applause] just walking back into the shade to collect the balls as I said it's going to warm up but this is probably the best time of the day to play before it gets too hot as we just see that ball just missed the Bas line [Applause] 40 she's already at five backhand winners and we've only had what just under four games [Applause] another tough game on serve again just uh waiting to collect the balls in the shade good idea The Roof Is Never Fully open it always uh remains partially open to allow a little bit of shade at the end of the each end but also helps the crowd a little as well more of them out of the Sun all right that's [Applause] perfect well even what you've seen in the opening 17 minutes uh you can sort of understand why RKA was voted last year the fans favorite player on the tour also many of the top women play pretty much the same with a big power game and she's got the other she can handle the pace of their opponents and she got this clever little game herself wow took it a bit casually [Applause] well looks certain to win this point is it just a little casually then look doesn't quite get the enough little adjusting steps under the ball seemed to move all right though did some good scrambling no certainly maybe the the adrenaline's kicked him maybe it's loosened up warmed up but I'm sure she's took man inflammatories before the start of the match they've probably kicked in and she's done well Rance it's a good recovery from Love two [Applause] down love [Applause] well this is a much more mature Adesa excuse me much more mature Victoria as aena the way she lost that last game um a season or so ago I think the ret would have hit the floor she' have got very emotional I mean it would have Disturbed her concentration but look at her she's right back on it here thinking of a challenge call on the right far the ball's called out he left it a fair while I thought they had to be uh more spontaneous than that and out by six Mills CH so as you suggested uh as a ranker really recovering quickly from that loss of serve three chances well without maneuvered on the first 154 [Applause] well this is what ransa does to her opponent she starts to sort of get into their minds because she makes so many balls to a length she just keeps on and on [Music] well power driving there from aara and once again she's ahead of break at 32 love H TI a sloppy start to this [Applause] game 15 1 [Applause] 154 she has to maintain her discipline here as a aner got for their count at 11 already that will hearten radansa saves one 1 4 such an effective serve that slider out to the juice court on the on the hard courts here hard courts except spin this Plexi cushion w [Applause] [Music] [Applause] effort games just a few looks up to her player box and I have to say coach Samuel Smith will be a bit concerned seeing Azarenka so tety out here and it's tough all the pressure is on her she's the one with the winning record against vka there's Thomas wowski I think tactical tactically brance got it has got it absolutely right so far well three all this is a key game for us he's been able to break back that keeps then dropping a serve so serving into the Sun as she has a quick look there good strong game from her here that's what she's after 15 open maybe it's the sun although she doesn't have a very powerful serve red Vanka but just trying to spin the serve in so she doesn't have to rely on the second ball and when she did there it was pretty severely dealt with what [Applause] I'm not sure Agnes is the right woman to play cat and mouse with have to say you listen to the crowd and they're really pulling for the young pole I think they find I they like the style of player as aarka but I think there's an issue with with the noise with the grunting or the shrieking they they don't like it [Applause] 134 she's got such good hands she can often manufacture shots without moving her feet too much but will come straight out it like that just a couple of adjusting steps so once again possibility of a break of serve well that's great hitting from azaro just moving her opponent from side to side so once again she's ahead of breakout 43 [Applause] L as good as aaro's ground strokes are the problem that she has is it's the same ball the same spin from both from both sides it's just a big flat hit there is there is no change of pace there is there is nothing to break it up you see their Rance just really comfortable soaking it up [Applause] now well she holds her position pretty well around the Baseline it's hard to push her back because her hands are so good her reactions are so good 153 I should be really disappointed with that there just The Odd Couple of shots from Advan out here that she that last one that she wouldn't normally play like that it just suggests to me that she's still a little insecure about her movement just trying for the three4 pace serve of the sun [Applause] 154 well P looks like continuing here [Music] [Applause] [Music] five consecutive breaks of serve and I have to say as a ranker not playing with the authority that we've seen so far in the tourn although this a very different opponent and also a difficult one for her because it's one of her best friends they've been great friends since the Juniors they've known each other over 10 years and there's a lot of history there between them she's letting go a lot of opportunities as we're at four all well that's the route through this first set if aara I'm getting my Agnes and my azaras completely D tired I do apologize ol she can blow a lot more width as ainka that would really help her cause pull pull ranska off the court [Music] more 15 [Applause] good body serve there oh [Music] that is the [Applause] way and for the first time in this match we've seen Azarenka use her nodle out here Loops up the high ball RKA does not like balls above shoulder height she's just not that physically strong she can't work with it and she gets a shorter ball and then she can go that that is a real progression out there tactically from Azarenka 24 Shots [Music] CLE a little backhand there from uh rer it looked like she was going to play a drop shot that one and then follows through a bit and it ended up getting as a ranker off balance e she's missed it wide tennis hotting up here in this first set and for the first timea takes the lead 54 [Applause] right onor [Applause] [Music] set [Applause] w [Music] another terrific hard-hitting exchange 14 no it's an absolute barrage isn't it from Azar you you have to admire it and she really has responded very well and uh completely up the anti here [Applause] wow a couple of hold to serve yes well neither are really serving lights out out here are they uh radansa just over 50% of her first serves in and pretty much the same sort of stats for Azarenka that was an important hold there though for as a ranker and she did it love game so that should give her a bit of a boost and particularly once again our opponent serving from the difficult end you can see just spinning that in any 141 K you'd rather not rely on your second ball oh how good [Applause] that 15 just look at the racket work here that was really difficult and just held it and held it and held it didn't she really clever 15 that really was just a second serve that one well it was a second serve it was 129 K and that's quite a uh that's about roughly where her second serve is 153 [Applause] 15 seems to have had a let down here ransa after playing so well to hold to take a 5-4 lead well a double and then a couple of groundstroke Misses challenging I think worth a challenge too well look to be space between ball and line we we're at the other end from this uh [Applause] yep 304 all that money I spent on my laser eye surgery a few years ago well worth it well worth the expense well not the best game from ransa as a ranker at 65 will serve for the set just a little anxious to get the ball down to the bacon backhand Corner rushed it go [Applause] well it's not just astonishingly well executed it's beautifully disguised as well it has to be perfect because when you hit a crosscourt drop shot it's going over the high pil there it's traveling a further distance than if you actually hit it down the line I'm not sure you could hit a better one than the one we've just seen oh good tennis that's the first one we've heard I have to say the fans here do get on as aer's case with the grunting love 40 154 one saved that four of seven that underlying the number of breaks that we've had though in this match [Applause] and indicating there that she just wasn't quite to the bounce lunging a little to reach it this is where a a ranker dearly like a good first serve to get a free point and back to the relative safety of juice well just long I think it was a good play yeah she had to take it on because she can't just continually counter punch and try and soak uput pressure and take the risk Azarenka will you know take the ball on and go for a winner so I think absolutely right it's not a place she would have made 12 months ago no this is this is the new improved Azarenka but she doesn't like missing though I have to say [Music] that well head control of the point there red vka moving has her anchor around and eventually draws the error she uses the forehand very well it's it's such a flat shot so it really does get through the court another chance which she takes this time her Anor era six games I can tell you that as tie break record at the Australian she has never won a tie break the Australian Open she's 0 for two and also so is agnesa radansa so they're going have to break one of them's going to break their dark here challenging but that looked to be well out in fact Gans is 0 for three with her Ty record because dro the first set 76 against matx Sans in the first round as challenges there a Rinker needs to try to get to the change of ends at least level in this tie break as he's up the end looking into the sun [Applause] oh a lot of balls he's just [Applause] missed well the only way aaran is coming through this tie break is to keep a composure and that's always the question mark I think she's done really well so far but it's always in there that little trigger temper that she has and she's not coping very well with the pressure of what's happening in front of her the net C gave her a little bit extra time it was beautifully executed 4 she's a good breaker duck in style [Applause] [Applause] six love as the players change ends just 5 minutes ago it was 65 and juice and but multiple set points are not always a guarantee of Clos up the set as Kim Twi and L showed us just a couple of days ago out here it just shows you how quickly it can turn around y serve for the set got down love 40 got back to juice so pretty close to seeing it out and now very little hope you would think it's a tie break one without the loss of a point so the first set in this quarterfinal to Red V [Music] [Applause] 15 left [Music] [Music] [Applause] well AAR is going to have to respond extremely well here obviously she's going to get back because getting back from losing a first set Grand Slam level is not something she's done terribly well historically she's only won three times in 21 occasions that she's lost the first set in in a grand slam event oops and on the other side of that statistic when radansa wins the first set in a grand slam there's been only two occasions out of 48 that she's gone on to lose the match so statistically as a ranker would definitely be have to beat the odds out here if she's going to progress through to the semi-final [Music] playing a smart match here well down the other end asara just started to look very distressed and looked at her her her player box yeah and that is that negativity is what undermines her performances and it's why she has not been to a final of a grand slaming yet Al is being frustrated here [Music] well she did a good job there at 30 all it was a big point 4 she just leted out some of the frustration maybe that wasn't such a bad idea but great discipline from Azar if she loses her mental discipline out here she is toast she stands in the sun too long she's toast but she really is the match will just go game I so tzara does hold a serve to start the second set second set not only did she reach [Applause] it 15 left she sets off really really late and you can see that she's not a powerful mover out of the blocks that is probably one of the best shots I've seen at this year's championships fantastic it didn't look like she was going to get near it would she had a racket we in front what wonderful racket work she's a little special agnesa ransa taught for 17 years by her father she's also got a younger sister who's couple of years younger than her Ursula who is also a top 100 player 30 well inside the Baseline to take that second [Applause] ball well as a ranker for quite a few seasons now statistically is one of the best returners in women's tennis and she's not going to have too many problems with the ball that just rolls over at 116k well didn't want the net cord 304 good little sneak in break [Music] point game [Applause] leads two games to well a pretty good effort there from Victoria Zanker been able to put behind losing a tie break seven zip and then coming out and breaking straight off the bat another sign of her growing maturity it's good to see what it is a terrific response but pertinently from from Azara who's really quite known for sort of blowing her stack at any any available moment [Applause] 15 good leg drive there 30 [Applause] 30 ranska showing us that if you don't hit the spots with your serve this too deep in the box then she will hurt you using all the pace that's what she does she loves Pace she normally got a good drop shot but once he got underneath it a bit too much well just over a week ago in Sydney as AA came back from a set down against radansa in that semi-final to win and then she was comfortable in the third I wonder if this much is going to follow that pattern [Music] well quick start to this second set for ainka he urges herself on three love in the second [Applause] well I guess worth a challenge missed by six Mills but the level has dropped just a little here for red banska straightforward shot for her there with her backhand [Applause] it's really more about aara just going up a notch in this second set rythm I feel rad V dropping off too much I think she invested a lot in that first set and there might have been a slight dip but mentally she's not really want to have lapses and she would have understood the importance of getting off to a really good start in this second set particularly after what happened in Sydney just over a week or so ago that's another very good return from Azarenka she looks like she's got the bit between her teeth now got her emotions under control and she's actually just channeling it into her performance which is probably the best thing to do with them oh blocked that one timed not much follow through jolting return rvon couldn't react at all [Applause] game well you wouldn't have picked that though first set 7 six and then the person who loses it bounces back for Love Yes maras has only won five points so far in the second set [Music] w [Applause] ly [Music] excessive backhands into the tape don't think you could ever right Ed buns go off in a set no matter what the score is just look at the heat coming off the court there you could uh fry a nice couple of eggs on that surface well anticipated there by aara 15 a great intensity I have to say from the belarussian of forget where she's from because she spent so much time in Scottdale Arizona when then she when she was 12 to train spent some time in mayorca and now living in Monaco and trying not to bump into other tennis players who live around every corner 3 an unusual Miss from her there set it up with that nice sliding serve 40 beautiful tennis from love 30 down from AAR rank again keep talking about the word discipline maintaining it she's doing that uh beautifully at the moment moment I think she lost her disciplines a little towards the end of that first set come on indeed what a second set she's playing the number three seed racing through it at five lovees it doesn't look a particularly important game this for Brad vka because the set looks to be gone but it is important just to get her mind back on track just to get her tennis back on that wasn't the easiest FY but it's one that she would normally make you just feel like she's just a little bit loose mentally right now getting looser mentally well I tell she's just going to let this set slip here that's not really and if you do that it's very hard to switch back on in the third you need she needs really she's got a shot breaking through this quarterfinal to get going now yes forms just not like a tap just can't turn it on off the two doubles there I think she pretty much has conceded this set I just wonder if that leg's starting to play out it it's uh well that server 103 there wonder if you just can't drive up on it yeah there's no upward Force at all saves one 154 save another and a very convincing set of tennis by Victor aaro six love we are at one set all 15 left [Music] [Applause] 15 we know redv is a terrific competitor and a great fighter I'm sure she'll just completely have forgotten now about that second set we focus on the third well good movement of the ball there R that's tough though isn't it to put a love set behind you Pete SAS always said when he was asked what was his uh what was his greatest strength and everyone is expecting him to say the serve or the running for herad and he'd often say a short memory or selective memory short selective just try and put it behind you not easy [Music] 14 I wish you'd use that tactic more just using the forehand just to Loop up to The Rance backhand because as I mentioned she did it once in the first set have a look at uh rad Vanka hit not really that comfortable with the ball above shoulder height causes all sorts of problems w he's been onto the drop shot the last few times got there easily and holds her opening serve 15 l [Applause] hasn't hit too many winners this afternoon advance that just her 11th as a rank more than matching that at 24 winners for the match so far and if the pole can hold here it's very much that the match is back on what's getting down to the ball doesn't give up a baseline easily does she is able to do that because she's got great hands 40 again easily dealing with this short second serve challeng another short second serve [Applause] well got to get a first serve in here after the way ranker has just dealt with the last two second balls that one 111 miles out practically under the radar she does get it in [Applause] wasn't hit all that hard either but it was well placed sliding it down the te so she stops the rot important she just had to hold that game one all key really for redansa next few games is just to get Azar is to get Azarenka moving on the ball again that second set aaran really was just allowed to stand and hit at free will [Music] really that's what she does to you got to start by getting these returns down the trm lines taking Azarenka out to the wings on that return so she's out of position behind that first serve and second serve and that gives ranska a chance to get on top of the point that's what she needs to do out here from uh from my perspective anyway [Applause] 4 you can see she was sort of stuck she' moved in midway between the Bas line and the service line didn't have time to recover and the ball was hit behind her n oh heavy hitting always [Applause] help and a careless opening point for her means she's got to win the next two to get ahead in the game so early opening here for AAR ranker 15 well the right idea of that serve didn't need to make it quite that good exactly she doesn't actually need to hit a clean winner off here just taking it pretty close down that line is good enough and then may play Second Ball but she has to be winning all those points off this second serve oh that's so good [Applause] 153 and on the balance of power you almost feel that aaren probably deserves more to go through to the semi-final just by the fact that just the amount of winage that she has knocked in in this match I mean she has really gone after [Music] it is going to challenge that again as you were saying didn't need to hit it right on the line and we'll see if she actually has it's hard for her to change that's what she does she loves lining the ball she's just missed [Applause] it quite a big Miss in the context of the opening few games of this final set [Music] that's just what she was saying she a smarter shot there she didn't need to hit the winner she had the power she's going to force her opponent off balance could only defend much safer shot there okay she has to hit another one but no problems really [Music] [Music] oh that's very [Applause] good AA leads three games to one there's been times in this match I've been very impressed with Adena tactically thinking clearly Under Pressure couple of little change ups and that's why she's hitting the front you can see yes she's got wonderful ground strikes but she does have some change up play not a lot but it's there looks like she's starting to win all the key points now 3-1 [Applause] 15 left [Music] 15 that Ball Toss just getting a little away from her there she get it too far out in front you can't hit up on the back of the ball she's been sparing though two in the first set one in the second set that was in the fourth game so that's the first first one in eight games that's pretty good going and such a pressurized match 15 well I was also about to add to that that it's been the one area that coach s sik has really worked on over the last couple of Seasons because her serve used to be very hitchy they've done a lot of technical work with it and uh it's still in there sometimes she just loses the Rhythm and it's it's still not a routine event for AAR rank to go through the semies of a slam she's only ever done it once before oh that's superb shot changing the line of Flight of the ball 154 well that was really a courageous shot gives herself a chance to get back get back she does unable to recover from those two double faults that banska back into this third [Applause] [Music] [Applause] set love well either she's reacting instinctively here or she's been really well prepped for this match CU again this is a nice little change up play let's teing the doubles last year just every now and then a shot creeps into her game like that I mean it was a routine ball probably didn't have much Pace on it as you've said she likes the pace she feeds off that so when she had to generate one herself there under a bit of pressure with the score she missed it [Music] it's Relentless out here from Azarenka I think the way she played the first point really opened rad vanka's eyes to what what might be coming she's built pressure so well in this match as the B russan three break points here seen a lot of breaks in this match almost belligerently wxs that one away at CL 40 154 [Applause] R Grinchy got believe it this is what she's looking for the second ball and once again taking advantage of it not trying to hit the cold winner as itad G really penetrating shot that'll draw a shter reply which she'll deal with then well you were talking about about the breaks I make that that 13th break of the match but it was always in there particularly with the serving Advan we've talked about how it is a little iffy and she's up against one of the best returners in women's tennis and now she's only held serve once since the end of the first set tells the story really doesn't it it does thinking about that weakness in the second serve though I mean the coach surely there'd be some emphasis on trying to improve it I'm sure I'm sure they are I think a lot of it has to do with our a body strength and raet speed and she's still a young woman 22 she can still get an awful lot stronger 15 no well as we've said she's been in five grand slam quarterfinals never a semi and it's got to be a factor the second serve I just wonder if it's starting to get into her head now the fact that she hasn't cracked that quarter file uh birth Advan you sort of see it slipping away here now she's behind a break in this final set [Applause] 153 well still able to do plenty of damage with the these well timed ground strikes [Music] boy 15 just not enough spin on the second ball when you get a little bit nervous she gets a bit hitchy doesn't she there's so little margin that's two in the previous game one in this game one so far in this game there's so much in this match still for advance I just wonder if physically she's okay she's banging her leg a few times I don't think she's entirely comfortable on that right leg well she's got a couple of chances to remain alive here [Music] didn't seem to move too well to that point I must say she moved in with a little Chip Shot but then4 didn't really move back too quickly from there trying to remain focused and Cal it's still facing one break back [Music] point and the benefit of getting the first serve wasn't all that uh fast but pretty accurate now just at 1ks that's about 20ks down from her fastest serve here this afternoon but I think a smart move just a three4 pace uh shows you that she's thinking clearly took all the pressure off the second serve and now back to the safety of juicey comes up with a lovely slice out wide well Strong finish to the game from Meara just look at the determination 52 she's close to the semis [Music] well keeping the pressure on he's really done a great job as a aner after serving for that first set and then losing the tie break seven love I mean as you said Sam in previous years that could have seen uh you know a bit of a disastrous effect on [Applause] her that would suggest to me game over really hint of resignation there isn't there with this shot it's just about her not being a to match aser from the Baseline [Music] [Music] oh and again the power just too much forka and three match points [Music] [Applause] 154 bravely saves one 1 and is helped on the other or another there's still one as a as ainka anxious to finish it off here because she could get a little shaky on a serve no mistake on the third so the good friends shake hands but on the day the bigger stronger player Victor asara comes back dropping the first set that she could have won in the championship acknowledges the crowd let's get the Applause going