For a second last year, Victoria Azarenka thought about quitting.
Qatar Open 2012 Results Day 4: Victoria Azarenka, Sam Stosur Roll Into Semifinals
This year Azarenka is more than just No. 1 in the world. The number that matters right now is 15.
Since the start of 2012, Azarenka hasn’t dropped a match, giving her a 15-match win streak.
On Friday, the Belarusian tennis star advanced to the semifinal round at the Qatar Open after defeating Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium 6-0, 6-4. The match lasted one hour and seven minutes, and Azarenka won more than 60 percent of her first and second service points.
Last year Azarenka didn’t even make it out of the first round when she suffered a loss to Daniela Hantuchova.
From The Times of India on Azarenka’s almost-withdrawal from the WTA last year:
“Every time I was stepping on the court, it was a misery to me. So I just told my mom, I don’t want to play anymore because it’s not fun. ... She’s like ‘You know what? I think maybe you’re tired, you’re burned out. Just come home and see what happens.’ And then a few long talks with my grandmother and I kinda bounced back. I realized there are more important things in life than just losing a tennis match.”
All three other seeds advanced on Friday. Tournament No. 3 seed Sam Stosur won after a three-setter against Monica Niculescu of France, 6-2, 2-6, 6-3.
On Saturday, for the first time in the tournament, seeds will face each other when No. 1 seed Azarenka plays No. 4 seed Agnieszka Radwanska. Stosur will play No. 5 seed Marion Bartoli.
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