Victoria Azarenka is looking almost back to her best as she ended Samantha Crawford's amazing run with a 6-0, 6-3 win. Crawford, having lost only one set throughout the tournament beating the likes of Belinda Bencic and Andrea Petkovic, bowed out in 68 minutes.

Free Hitting Azarenka Against A Nervous Crawford

Azarenka won the toss but chose to receive perhaps sensing Crawford's nerves. And she got it right as a poor start from Crawford handed Azarenka break points which she duly converted. The Belarusian followed it up with a comfortable hold. The American, who was playing with a taped left thigh, continued with her errors gifting more break points. The forehand that was raved about during her earlier matches was finally on show as Crawford saved a break point with some great forehands.

But against Azarenka, perhaps one of the best returners in recent years, she struggled and Azarenka was up 3-0. At the sit down, the American seemed to have regrouped as she looked to be finally in the game creating break point chance for herself. She wasted that chance as it was to her only one in the first set. The former world number one holding to make it 4-0. With another break of serve in the next game, Azarenka got herself three set points before winning the set 6-0. 

Crawford's Fight Proving Too Little Too Late

Crawford started off the second set much better than the first. She hit a couple of aces and a winner to finally get on board and the crowd lent their support. In the third game, Crawford again faced break points, but she showed her skills saving two of them.

At 30-40, she challenged a point by stopping play. The American lost the challenge and effectively the game. The match looked to be over as Azarenka consolidated the break to lead 3-1. There was no stopping the Belarusian as she broke serve again to go 4-1 up.

However, Crawford was not going down without a fight. And as Azarenka lost a little focus hitting a string of errors, Crawford grabbed her chance to break. The seventh game of the second set was the longest game as the frustrated looking Azarenka tried to break again. Which she finally did leading 5-2.

As the Belarusian served for the match, Crawford gave one more fight hitting a fine backhand which Azarenka could only watch as it sailed past, setting up break point. Crawford broke Azarenka's serve with a fiery forehand, leaving her opponent looking irritated. The former world number one continued to push hard and sealed the set on Crawford's serve 6-3 setting up a tantalizing finals clash with Angelique Kerber. 

Match Statistics

It did not help that Crawford hit a total of 31 unforced errors to Azarenka's six. Her serve was not at her best as she won just 46 percent of her first serves while Azarenka won 73 percent of her first serves. Azarenka with 14 break points converting seven of them.