• Madrid Open

Azarenka eases past Goerges

Victoria Azarenka was much too good for Julia Goerges © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: ATP Tour Seedings
  
• News: Rome tennis seedings
  
• News: Madrid Open seedings
  
• Profile: Victoria Azarenka | Petra Kvitova

Madrid seedings

Victoria Azarenka remains on course to secure her third win of the season, after getting the better of the in-form Julia Goerges in the semi-finals of the Madrid Open.

Azarenka, a winner in Miami and Marbella earlier in the season, came into the game on the back of a run of 18 wins from her last 20 outings - her only defeats coming by way of retirements due to injury at Indian Wells and Stuttgart.

Goerges benefited from Azarenka's retirement in Stuttgart, as she went on to win the tournament, and she showed it was no fluke by taking out world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki earlier this week. But the German found Azarenka far too classy.

The opening set was a tight affair, but Azarenka exerted the greater pressure and one break of serve was enough for the No. 4 seed to take the set.

Azarenka's serving has been a real weapon this season and Goerges could make no impact on the Belarusian. Goerges worked just one break point in the whole match, which she failed to convert, and the solid serving enabled Azarenka to attack her opponent.

Azarenka earned two breaks of serve in the second set and this allowed her to cruise into the final - with the win enough to take her up to No. 4 in the world standings which will be released on Monday.

She will have to be on her game in the final, as she will faced with a rampant Petra Kvitova who handed out a 6-3 6-1 mauling to Li Na.

Chinese No. 1 Li is no slouch, but Kvitova is one of the game's rising stars and she was simply too strong.

Kvitova played some blistering shots on the forehand wing, but she also possesses a deft touch as she proved with a cute drop shot on set point to take the opening set.

Li failed to stem the tide at the start of the second set, as Kvitova secured a rapid double break. The Czech crashed winner after winner from the back of the court and wrapped up the win in an hour and 10 minutes.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.