Belarussian Victoria Azarenka (3) has made it to the 2012 Australian Open Women’s Singles Final after picking up a 2-1 victory over last year’s Champion, Belgian Kim Clijsters (11), in the Semi-Final on Thursday 26 January 2012.
Azarenka won through despite dropping the second set, with a scoreline of 6-4 1-6 6-3.
This match was extremely close. The principle difference between Azarenka and Clijsters being Azarenka’s play on the key points. She times her match to perfection, picking up the breaks in sets one and three when required, and playing well within herself.
Clijsters will come away knowing that she was close to another Australian Open Final in this, her final season, though, as the Belgian was more than a match for her opponent in much of this match, and in fact hit more winners and won more points across the three sets. That being said, once set two was gone, Azarenka let it go, and instead focussed on coming out strongly in the third set to wrap up the match in most professional style.
It was an emotional farewell for Clijsters, who is to retire from tennis at the end of this season.
Azarenka will face Maria Sharapova (4) in the Australian Open 2012 Final, after the Russian fourth seed came through her semi-final against Petra Kvitova (2) in three sets.
Australian Open 2012 – Clijsters v Azarenka Match Statistics
Clijsters (BEL) | Azarenka (BLR) | |
1st Serve % | 53 of 84 = 63 % | 56 of 97 = 58 % |
Aces | 1 | 1 |
Double Faults | 5 | 7 |
Unforced Errors | 44 | 40 |
Winning % on 1st Serve | 37 of 53 = 70 % | 38 of 56 = 68 % |
Winning % on 2nd Serve | 12 of 31 = 39 % | 17 of 41 = 41 % |
Winners | 26 | 20 |
Receiving Points Won | 42 of 97 = 43 % | 35 of 84 = 42 % |
Break Point Conversions | 4 of 12 = 33 % | 4 of 11 = 36 % |
Net Approaches | 8 of 14 = 57 % | 18 of 23 = 78 % |
Total Points Won | 91 | 90 |
Fastest Serve Speed | 176 KMH | 168 KMH |
Average 1st Serve Speed | 156 KMH | 156 KMH |
Average 2nd Serve Speed | 140 KMH | 142 KMH |