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Tennis: Azarenka blitzes Mertens to dance into US Open semis

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Agence France-Presse

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style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center;margin-bottom:24px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:224px"> </div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:144px"> </div></div><p style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:17px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:8px;overflow:hidden;padding:8px 0 7px;text-align:center;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CEVMOnRjYRr/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:17px;text-decoration:none" target="_blank">A post shared by Victoria Azarenka (@vichka35)</a> on <time dateTime="2020-08-25T23:41:57+00:00" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:17px">Aug 25, 2020 at 4:41pm PDT</time></p></div></blockquote><script async="" src="http://www.instagram.com/embed.js" type="text/javascript"></script><p>NEW YORK -- Victoria Azarenka of Belarus demolished Belgium&#x27;s Elise Mertens in straight sets to reach the semi-finals of the US Open on Wednesday. </p><p>The former world number one thrashed the 16th seed 6-1, 6-0 in just 1hr 13min inside an empty Arthur Ashe Stadium.</p><p>&quot;That was pretty good,&quot; said Azarenka.</p><p>&quot;I felt that I made the court really big for her today, which worked really well,&quot; she added.</p><p>Mertens, 24, failed to hold her serve once during the match and won only 19 percent of points on her second serve.</p><p>The Belgian also hit 23 unforced errors, compared to Azarenka&#x27;s 11.</p><p>&quot;I felt that I really executed my plan. I was going to try to use my speed, use my power of the ball so I tried to do some variation where I would get her out of balance,&quot; Azarenka said.</p><p>The two-time Grand Slam winner, will renew her rivalry with Serena Williams in the last four on Thursday. </p><p>Williams defeated Azarenka in the final of the US Open in 2012 and 2013. </p><p>The unseeded Azarenka is bidding to end a seven-year wait for a third Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows. </p><p>Azarenka&#x27;s last Slam title came at the 2013 Australian Open, when she retained the crown she had won a year earlier. </p><p>Her last appearance in the final of a tennis major was her US Open defeat to Williams that same year, which she lost in three sets. </p><p>Azarenka also suffered an agonising loss in 2012, when she served for the match at 5-3 in the third set only to lose 7-5. </p><p>She became a mother in December 2016. A custody battle over her son has disrupted her career in recent years. </p><p>Azarenka is brimming with confidence after a run of victories which includes claiming last month&#x27;s Western and Southern Open tune-up event in New York.</p><p>She said she was benefitting from staying in a private house in New York, rather than one of the tournament&#x27;s pre-approved player hotels.</p><p>&quot;My mom is cooking every night. That&#x27;s just a huge advantage, I think.</p><p>&quot;Being able to play with my son in the garden and push him on the swings is important,&quot; Azarenka said.</p><p>The Belarusian said she was enjoying tennis much more now than she ever did when she topped the rankings.</p><p>During her US Open run this year she has been seen on court dancing a little to music blaring from the loud speakers.</p><p>&quot;I was so upset and I couldn&#x27;t for a couple of days function normally because you get so overwhelmed and now it doesn&#x27;t bother me,&quot; she said.</p><p>&quot;I can really say that I can feel the moment and I am enjoying it,&quot; Azarenka added.</p><p>She won the Western &amp; Southern with a walkover after Japan&#x27;s Osaka withdrew due to a hamstring injury. </p><p>Osaka, the US Open&#x27;s fourth seed, plays American Jennifer Brady in Thursday&#x27;s other semi-final.</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div>

<p>Victoria Azarenka of Belarus demolished Belgium's Elise Mertens in straight sets to reach the semi-finals of the US Open on Wednesday. </p>

Victoria Azarenka of Belarus demolished Belgium's Elise Mertens in straight sets to reach the semi-finals of the US Open on Wednesday.