French Open champion Maria Sharapova and World No.1 Victoria Azarenka will meet in an eagerly awaited semi-final today at the 2012 US Open.You can watch and bet on Sharapova v Azarenka live for free at bet365 > live tennis.Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka both endured some tight moments in the quarter-finals of this year’s US Open, but both pulled through to the final four. The Russian lost the opening set of her match against Marion Bartoli, but was able to dig deep for a 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 success. Azarenka, meanwhile, was pushed all the way into a third set tie-breaker against defending champion Sam Stosur before prevailing 6-1, 4-6, 7-6(5).
Azarenka, of course, beat Sharapova in the Australian Open final this year. “It's always tough to lose in that final stage of a Grand Slam,” said Sharapova when asked about her rivalry with the Belarusian. “Last time we played I think I was in Stuttgart where I beat her, but before that she got me a couple of times.”
“I played a really good match in Germany against her. Obviously I want to take the things I did well there and - but that was on clay; this is a different situation. So every match is new. She's been playing great tennis.”
Azarenka will be prepared for a tough match today. “I'm really looking forward to play the tough battles I have still in the tournament,” she said after beating Stosur. “Being first time in the semifinals in the US Open is incredible feeling for me. Definitely I don't want to stop. I really want it bad. I'm going to do absolutely everything I have, you know, to give it all here.”
Regardless of who wins we should be in for a great contest here. The ongoing rivalry between these two players has been anything but one-sided this season. Both players are good enough to win slams. We can expect a very high quality of tennis throughout.
