Serena Williams edged past Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4 7-6 (7-1) to reach the Indian Wells final for the first time in 15 years. Williams beat Radwanska in this year’s Australian Open semifinal but the Indian Wells was much closer.
Radwanska got an early break in the opening set. The Pole earned three double break point chances in the fifth game but Williams held her serve to claw her way back to 2-3. The US legend converted her first break back point in the 8th game to draw level to 4-4 as Radwanska hit a forehand wide. Williams took the edge for 5-4 with a a volley winner. Williams took a 0-40 lead on Radwanska’s serve to earn set points and converted her chance with a forehand winner to clinch the opening set by 6-4.
Williams reeled off 28 points to 4 to race to a 3-0 lead in the second set but Radwanska broke back to love en route to winning the next three games to draw level to 3-3. Radwanska earned a break point chance with a forehand return winner before breaking serve in the 11th game to take a 6-5 lead as Williams made volley error.
Williams hit a winner to earn a break point chance. She broke back with a winner to force the second set to the tie-break. Williams fought back from losing the first point in the tie-break by winning six consecutive points and closed out the match with a powerful forehand. Williams won 11 of the final 12 points of the match.
“It was really good for me to have a match like that. I think that’s the reason Aggie is doing so well because she never gave up. I was up so much in the second set and she just came back more determined so it was really good to play her tonight”, said Williams.
Williams will take on Victoria Azarenka who overcame Karolina Pliskova 7-6 (7-1) 1-6 6-2. Pliskova broke serve in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead in the opening set but she did not convert two set points as Azarenka was serving at 3-5. Pliskova then did not serve out the set in the ninth game. Azarenka broke back with a drop-shot volley to draw level to 5-5. Both players held their next two service games to force the first set to the tie-break. Azarenka dominated a one-sided breaker with 7-1.
Pliskova fought back fending off four break points to hold her serve in the first game of the second set. The Czech player hit 17 winners to just 4 unforced errors to clinch the second set 6-1 in 34 minutes as Azarenka won just four service points.
Azarenka converted her third break point to break serve for 3-1 in the decider as Pliskova hit her backhand long. Azarenka broke in the 8th game to clinch the match in 2 hours and 5 minutes. Azarenka withstood 17 aces and 43 unforced errors.
Azarenka now leads 2-1 in her head-to-head matches against Pliskova.
Williams and Azarenka will meet for the 21th time. Williams leads 17-3 in their previous clashes. Azarenka could reach the top-10 for the first time since July 2014. Azarenka lifted the Indian Wells title in 2012 but her career has been ruined by a series of injuries.
“It’s been a great week. I felt I improved so much. I have been working hard and it’s good to see that all the work is paying off. I tried to apply what I am working on. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t buti t has put me in position to play against the best players and these are the most priceless moments for me”, said Azarenka.
