US Open 2020: Victoria Azarenka crushes Elise Mertens to set up Serena showdown.

No secret to beating Serena, just fight until it's over: Azarenka

Victoria Azarenka set up a semi-final showdown with Serena Williams after an impressive win over Elise Mertens at the US Open.

Azarenka was in blistering form in a 6-1 6-0 thrashing of Belgian 16th seed Mertens in just 73 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday.

The two-time Australian Open winner reached an eighth career grand slam semi-final and first since making the decider in New York in 2013.

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Azarenka moved into a last-four meeting with Williams, who overcame Tsvetana Pironkova earlier on Wednesday.

Williams has won 18 of their previous 22 meetings, although Azarenka is riding a 10-match winning streak after claiming the Western & Southern Open title.

While the players traded early breaks, it was Azarenka who was dominant in the first set against Mertens.

Mertens saved a break point with a down-the-line winner in the fourth game, but a double fault handed Azarenka a 3-1 lead.

A brilliant backhand winner that caught the outside of the line put Azarenka 4-1 up on her way to the opening set.

Another Mertens double fault gave Azarenka a break to begin the second set before she fought from 15-40 down to consolidate.

Azarenka was breaking at will and she moved 3-0 ahead courtesy of another backhand winner.

Mertens proved to be no match for Azarenka, who ended up winning the last 10 games of the encounter.

 

STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN 

Azarenka bt Mertens [16] 6-1 6-0

WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS 

Azarenka – 21/11Mertens – 17/22

ACES/DOUBLE FAULTS 

Azarenka – 3/2Mertens – 1/5

BREAK POINTS WON 

Azarenka – 6/11Mertens – 1/4

FIRST SERVE PERCENTAGE 

Azarenka – 68Mertens – 52

PERCENTAGE OF POINTS WON ON FIRST/SECOND SERVE 

Azarenka – 65/50Mertens – 48/19

TOTAL POINTS 

Azarenka – 59Mertens – 35

No secret to beating Serena, just fight until it's over: Azarenka.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - There is no secret to beating Serena Williams, says her U.S. Open semi-final opponent Victoria Azarenka, the only chance to win is to fight hard, execute well and remember the 23-times Grand Slam champion is never out of it, no matter the score.

Victoria Azarenka of Belarus hits a backhand against Elise Mertens of Belgium (not pictured) in a women's singles quarter-finals match on day nine of the 2020 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Azarenka, 31, set up the semi-final clash against Williams with a 6-1 6-0 demolition of Belgium’s 16th seed Elise Mertens on Wednesday.

While she has a 4-18 career record against Williams, the Belarusian was one of the few players who consistently challenged the American when in her prime from 2012-16.

“It’s just a good execution and being able to fight for every ball,” a smiling Azarenka said.

She made it clear to reporters there was no secret to beating Williams -- though added that even if there was she would not be sharing it.

“We had so many great battles when I won or when I lost. A lot of good matches,” she added.

“I always know one thing: the match is never over. No matter what the score is, the match is never going to be over.”

It will be Azarenka’s first Grand Slam semi-final since 2013 when she went on to make her second successive final against Williams at Flushing Meadows.

Williams won both those finals, which are part of her 10-0 record against Azarenka in Grand Slams, but the Belarusian only had fond memories of playing the American.

“I like playing against the best,” she said. “That’s where you see yourself, your level, the biggest challenge.

“There’s no one as tough mentally as Serena.

“I think we’ve built a lot of memories to remember. There’s been a lot of great matches.”

Reporting by Greg Stutchbury in Wellington; Editing by Peter Rutherford