Azarenka’s first US Open title within reach

Vika Azarenka’s chances at the US Open have never looked better than they do this US Open 2013.

The World number 2 has won three hard court tournaments this year, with one of them being the Australian Open. There she defended her first Major the first time of asking, withstanding the pressure put on her by Li Na in the final and the backlash from the media and public concerning her controversial injury time out in her semi-final.

Her mental toughness was also proven in her victories in Doha and Cincinnati where she managed to beat World number One Serena Williams in three sets, the match in Cincinnati seeing her come back from a break down in the third.

It could be argued, considering these results and the recent victory over Serena, that Azarenka is the favorite for the title. She is also last year’s US Open finalist and was a service game away from the trophy.

It will not be straightforward though, but Major wins never are. The Belorussian’s draw is filled with potential banana skins, the first one being a possible encounter with Cibulkova in the last sixteen. The Slovakian, a winner in Stanford this season, has run the Belorussian close on hard courts and beaten her at a slam, at Roland Garros ’12. Should Azarenka get through that match she could face either Stosur who beat her in straights in the Stanford final or Kvitova who looked set to achieve what Azarenka achieved in 2012 after a formidable 2011 in which she got the better of Azarenka in big matches.

But Azarenka in a Major against Stosur will be, as demonstrated in last year’s US Open last eight where Azarenka prevailed in a third set breaker, a different beast than in the final of Carlsbad after an injury lay-off. And as for Kvitova, the Czech’s presence in the last eight would be a surprise and her beating Azarenka would be an even bigger one. Vika is experienced to the tune of being a former world number one and a two time Major Champion since Kvitova beat her in ’11, and will be too consistent and stable for the erratic Czech.

In the last four, a meeting with Errani awaits, and it could happen, considering that Errani is a defending semi-finalist. And the Italian’s draw looks most inviting with Vinci, Kuznetsova and Wozniacki the main threats. But the last four will be as far as the Italian gets. Azarenka is arguably the best hard court player on the WTA right now while Errani is one of the weakest ones in the top ten.

In the final, Azarenka will most likely meet Serena. Considering the tricky draw Azarenka might have to negotiate to get there, and her two tough wins over Serena this season, the world number two could pull off the upset and beat the world number One to claim her first US Open title. It will of course be tough, but tough is something which suits Azarenka. And with the way the hard courts suit her game, now looks like the right time for her to step up and be the Champion in New York.