• Kremlin Cup

Azarenka powers through in Moscow

ESPN staff
October 22, 2010
Victoria Azarenka will face Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez in the semi-finals © Getty Images
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Victoria Azarenka remained on course for her second title of 2010 after she stormed into the Kremlin Cup semi-finals in Moscow.

Despite a comfortable 6-1 6-3 scoreline, the second seed needed an hour and 40 minutes to seal her place in the last four with a victory over Russia's Alisa Kleybanova.

Azarenka stormed out of the blocks, winning nine games on the bounce to wrap up the opening set before establishing a 3-0 lead in the second to put a stranglehold on the match. Kleybanova dug deep to pull back to 3-3, but Azarenka was too strong as she moved away to seal the victory.

With top seed Jelena Jankovic out, the No. 2 seed is the favourite to claim the title in Moscow on Sunday. For a place in the final the Belarusian must first navigate her way past Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, who overcame Dominika Cibulkova 6-2 6-3. The Spaniard, seeded eighth in Moscow, converted six of her 14 break points to maintain her unbeaten record against the Slovakian.

The home fans are guaranteed to have a Russian interest in the final with Maria Kirilenko booking her place in an all-Russian semi-final. Kirilenko beat Jankovic's conqueror, world No. 268 Zarina Diyas, 6-1 6-2 and will now face compatriot Vera Dushevina who edged out Anna Chakvetadze 6-3 7-6(7) .

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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