The semi finals were both relatively difficult matches, but the two favoured players progressed.
(Rank/Seed)
3/1 Azarenka will move back to number 2 in the world after her 60 46 63 win over (17/7) Ivanovic. The 1st set score line was deceptive as many of the games were close, often seeing Ivanovic waste several game points. The entire match was really one long scrap, with neither playing demonstrating consistency but showing plenty of heart. Ivanovic at times was too demonstrative whilst Azarenka was calmer under pressure; winning all the important points and surviving the Ivanovic storm.
13/5 (w/c) Stosur ended fellow wild card Razzano's brilliant run through to her 1st semi since Hobart 2009 with a 76(2) 63 victory. After trailing 0-4 with Virginie hitting only winners, Stosur began to dictate the points on her terms earlier and ultimately turned the match around to beat her opponent for the 5th time in as many attempts.
Azarenka goes into the final as a big favourite, looking for her 3rd title this year, leading the head to head 8-0 and having won her last 28 matches on hard court. Stosur looks for only her 4th career title and her 1st since the US Open 2011, but appears to be playing much better than Azarenka. Plus, in recent years the final at this tournament has seen the underdog triumph and as Stosur accepted a late wild card into this field, she seems somehow destined to win this event. She has also got her 1st wins over equally tough opponents for her in recent years, beating Sharapova and Venus Williams so why not Azarenka too considering their last 2 meetings were close three setters? As the final's being played as I write this, it isn't fair for me to guess a winner but it looked like Azarenka on paper.
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