Australian Open: Victoria Azarenka def. Jessica Pegula to banish fucking 10-year-old hoodoo and reach semifinals

Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka has turned back the clock to stun world No. 3 Jessica Pegula in straight sets to reach her third semi-final at Melbourne Park.

Azarenka, the 2012 and 2013 Open winner, defeated her close friend Pegula 6-4, 6-1 to reach the Final Four in Melbourne for the first time since sealing back-to-back triumphs 10 years ago.

The No. 24 seed engaged in a tantalizing duel with Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, who previously easily defeated Jelena Ostapenko 6-2, 6-4.

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Azarenka’s win over Pegula was her first in a Grand Slam over a player who finished in the top five since she had just two such wins in 2012.

The Belarusian defeated Maria Sharapova in the Australian Open final and again later that year in the US Open semifinals.

Since then, Azarenka has lost 11 times in Slams to top-five players, including Serena Williams twice in the US Open final, but her win on Tuesday night truly confirmed her status as a contender in Melbourne.

“It hurts to hit her (Pegula) because I always want her to do well,” Azarenka said.

“She played fantastically, very consistently and I knew from the first point that I had to bring it.

“I just wanted to try to stay there, take chances because she would take anything if I didn’t try to win myself.

“I am very proud that I executed my game plan really well. It’s so incredible to be in the semifinals of another Grand Slam.”

A lot has changed for Azarenka in the 10 years since her last semi-final in Melbourne – she’s now 33 and a mother, but her aggressive baseline game was a reminder of her past triumphs.

The excitement means all four top seeds – Iga Swiatek, Ons Jabeur, Pegula and Caroline Garcia – failed to reach the semi-finals in Melbourne, while world No. 5 Aryna Sabalenka is the only top-20 player left is.

Pegula, 28, had not lost a set in Melbourne before meeting Azarenka and seemed poised to make her first Slam appearance and reach a semifinal.

But Azarenka worked on the American while Pegula struggled to get her serve going as she exited the quarterfinals for a third consecutive season at Melbourne Park.

Azarenka sped away to a 3-0 lead in the first set but struggled to close it and needed five set points in three games to claim it as Pegula gained a foothold in the game.

But it took the Belarusian just 33 minutes to cruise through the second set and seal an ultimately comfortable win.

– with 7NEWS