MADRID (AP) — Top-ranked Victoria Azarenka advanced to the Madrid Open final, beating Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2, 6-4 on Saturday in the first semifinal
Azarenka, a five-time tournament winner this year, will face Serena Williams or Lucie Hradecka in the final on the blue-clay court. Azarenka beat Radwanska for the sixth straight time.
Azarenka, from Belarus, hit a deep return to set up a slam and break her Polish rival’s first service game, and went on to hit 14 winners and held for love to wrap up the first set.
The players traded a pair of breaks in the second set before Azarenka, the runner-up last year, won a decisive third break with a crosscourt return.
In the men’s semifinals, Roger Federer will face Novak Djokovic, and Tomas Berdych will play Juan Martin del Potro.