To be the man, you’ve got to beat the man. That applies in women’s tennis, too. Victoria Azarenka might be the No. 1-ranked female in the world and the top seed at this year’s U.S. Open, but the only way she can validate that status is to defeat Serena Williams when they meet in the women’s singles final tonight at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
In some ways that’s not a fair assessment, considering Azarenka extended a remarkable season by defeating Maria Sharapova 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 yesterday to reach her first U.S. Open final. This comes after becoming the first Belarusian to win a Grand Slam singles by capturing the Australian Open this year. She added a bronze medal at the Olympics and owns a 32-2 record on hardcourt this year.
But as much as she has accomplished this year and how gallantly she played in a grueling 2-hour and 42-minute match against Sharapova, it’s all consolation unless she beats the fourth-seeded, but highly-favored Williams tonight.
“I definitely need to find something to surprise her because she’s in great form and feeling really confident right now,” Azarenka said. “She has everything on her side.”
If Azarenka has any confidence going into tonight’s match, she didn’t sound as if she did yesterday after Williams polished off Sara Errani, 6-1, 6-2 in 64 minutes. Azarenka might have been excited about beating Sharapova, but the prospect of facing Williams was difficult to digest. Williams own a 9-1 record against Azarenka, last losing in the round of 16 at the 2009 Australian Open, when she retired 3-6, 4-2.
In this, Azarenka’s best year as a pro, Williams beat her in Madrid 6-1, 6-3, in the semifinals at Wimbledon 6-3, 7-6 (6) and in the semifinals of the Olympics 6-1, 6-2. When someone asked Azarenka if she was going to watch any film of her previous matches with Williams, she answered: “I don’t want to be depressed.”
Fortunately, Azarenka didn’t watch Williams’ destruction of Errani. Williams dominated the 10th-seeded Italian physically, mentally and skillfully. Azarenka’s challenge tonight is to hold up under the pressure Williams will apply with her serve and her power. It’s something Azarenka hasn’t done in losing eight straight to Williams.
“I’ve got to do something different,” Azarenka said, “because the other times didn’t really work for me. So I definitely have to try to make sure that I’m the one who dictates the play and controls the match as much as possible.”
She insisted she’s not afraid of the big stage and she knows the prime-time crowd will be favoring the American. But in the season of her first Grand Slam, her first No. 1 ranking and first U.S. Open final, Azarenka said she’s not afraid of the challenge.
“It’s definitely going to be the first time being in the U.S. Open, but there is a lot of things that has been the first time for me this year,” Azarenka said.
Azarenka battled back after losing the first set to dominate the second and outlasted Sharapova in the third set, breaking her serve in the final game to win the match. Sharapova had entered the game having won all 12 of her three-set matches this year. Azarenka is now 12-0 in her three-set matches.
Someone offered the suggestion Azarenka might be satisfied just being competitive against Williams and not embarrassing herself. She called it “a silly question,” which it was.
“I’m definitely going into it with the mentality to win,” she said. “There’s no other way.”
Azarenka exudes her own brand of bravado. She is no dainty flower on the court. She comes to battle. She’ll need that attitude tonight to match the intensity Williams brings.