Stephens-- 1-- 4
Azarenka-- 6--6
Sloane Stephens too long on backhand. MATCH! Azarenka!
ADV Azarenka-- Her sixth Match point!
Duece! Stephens goes too strong with whopping forehand.
40-30 Stephens with game point
30-30 Azarenka getting help from struggling Stephens on the serve.
Azarenka is getting looked at by trainers.
STEPHENS IS STILL ALIVE!!
DEUCE!
Azarenka loses challenge and the "Woo's!" begin.
5th match point for Azarenka. Azarenka challenges.
DEUCE!---- Stephens with unfroced error...
Azarenka with fourth Match point...
Azarenka with long forehand-- Azarenka can't close out.
AAAAH! Azarenka shrieks again. Deuce
ADV Azarenka!
DEUCE! Azarenka them smacks ball into the ground.
40-30
40-15-- Crowd roars as Stephens continues to battle. Azarenka has her running sprints
Azarenka serves with chance to close out the match.
Stephens goes out of control--- Loses game
15-30 Azarenka leads
15-15 Stephens still in the fight. Fans are backing up Stephens.
Game Stephens! She's set to serve next.
Azarenka Serving-- Two more games for Azarenka
Azarenka is out of control!
Azarenka shrieks! Commits consecutive double-faults.
Second duece as Azarenka commits fifth double fault
Azarenka controls, but finds herself in a Deuce. Goes too long with forehand.
Stephens serving--- She drops it! Game Azarenka
40-0 Azarenka leads
30-0
We'll be doing scoring updates only.
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Azarenka Serves-- Up 15-0
She gets it. Stephens ties second set.
40-30 too long from Azarenka. Game point..
30-15 Stephens returns the favor... 30-30 what a serve. Azarenka can't return.
15-15 Azarenka looks injured, but the plays the net beautifully and completely fools Stephens with volley.
Stephens to serve-- 15-0 Stephens makes Azarenka work.
Nice! Stephens can get back into it. Wins Game 3.
ADV Stephens-- Stephens rushed to the net and forced Azarenka to hurry shot which was pretty flat.
40-30 Stephens flat with her shot.
15-30 No she can't. Unforced error by Stephens.
Azarenka serves--- 0-30... Uh oh!!! Azarenka is hobbling. Can Stephens take advantage?
GAME AZARENKA--- Unforced errors have done it again for Stephens.
Deuce-- Stephens can't close again and goes long with forehand.... Now ADV Azarenka- late hit goes right into the net.
ADV Stephens. The crowd is alive! Azarenka again yelps after sending a return too long
40-40 Beautiful serve! Azarenka off balance bangs ball right into net.
30-40 Stephens works the net and they exchange a couple of hits. Azarenka can't stay alive.
15-40 Azarenka dominating.
Stephens to serve --- 15-30 Azarenka leading.
Azarenka quickly on the attack. Up 40-15 as she serves. She's not playing games. She just put it away with booming backhand way far out of the reach of Stephens.
---------------------AZARENKA WINS Set 1------------------
WHOO! What a shot. Azarenka gets the lob to fall. Stephens can just stare in disbelief.
15-40 Stephens keeps herself in the set.
0-40 after 19th unforced error by Stephens.
Stephens Serving--- 0-15 Azarenka leading. That back hand is so strong! We see it again. 0-30
GAME AZARENKA---
Stephens squeals as ball does not go where she expected it to.
40-30 Stephens covers the court beautifully. Gets ball past Azarenka.
40-15 ACE Azarenka.. Double-Game point
30-15 Azarenka runs up to the net and puts it away with a smash.
15-15 Azarenka goes long. Then smacks ball in frustration.
Azarenka Serves-- 15-0 Stephens inexplicably jots shot far wide after a long exchange.
OOOOH!!! Game Azarenka. Stephens had the angle, but couldn't control shot and it went long.
ADV Azarenka--- Stephens unforced error.
Deuce Stephens can't close out! Another long ball.
ADV Stephens- Completely had Azarenka off balance with serve.
Deuce! Azarenka forces Stephens in the corner and Stephens is handcuffed.
ADV Stephens.. No. Challenge by Azarenka. --- She loses. HAHAH! Somebody in the crowd mimicked Azarenka's yelp after she lost the challenge.
40-40 Stephens plays the net and gets Azarenka to overhit.
40-30 Azarenka loops shot and then hammers a forehand down the baseline.
Stephens serving-- Up 30-15 following two Azarenka unforced errors.
Stephens with 12 unforced errors and now Azarenka halfway through with this first set.
GAME STEPHENS!! What a cross body shot. Azarenka was playing the net. Stephens with the angle, gets past right by Azarenka.
ADV- Stephens! Doesn't overhit forehand and sends a sharp liner that bounces twice before getting to Azarenka.
Deuce... close to another ace. Boy you can tell it's hot. Stephens is sweating bullets
Another great serve by Sloane, then goes long after serve and return from Azarenka
Deuce! Another backhand from Azarenka puts it away!
BOOMING SERVE! ADV- Stephens.
DEUCE! Azarenka's backhand keeps her in the game. Stephens bangs it off the net.
ADV Stephens- Cuts Azarenka's loud sigh short and crosses her up with a shot.
40-30 can't convert game point. Too long on swooping backhand.
40-15 Forehand by Stephens gives her the point.
30-15 Azarenka controlled the tempo with booming forehand to get the point
Stephens now up 30-0 after Azarenka goes long with return.
Stephens serving---
Stephens isn't sharp and overhitting.
GAME AZARENKA!--- All points on unforced errors from Stephens
30-0 Stephens with consecutive unforced errors. Long on backhand.
Azarenka to serve---
GAME AZARENKA-
ADV Azarenka- Unforced errors and a beautiful drop shot from Azarenka have pinned Sloane against the wall.
40-30 Stephens whacks backhand into the net
40-15 Azarenka again long with her return. Heavy serves from Stephens
Azarenka with strong whacks. Long on her backhand. Stephens challenges and wins! Ball was outside.
15-15 after Stephens wins a point and then commits double fault.
Stephens is serving
The Ladies are warming up.
New Bruno Mars is blasting from the Rod Laver Arena speakers as both ladies make their entrances.
---------------Welcome to the Live Blog of Azarenka (1) vs. Stephens (25)---------------
The 2013 Australian Open Women's Singles semifinals wraps up with Sloane Stephens taking on Victoria Azarenka as only one will advance to the finals. Join us for the live blog with scoring updates, play-by-play and color commentary of this exciting tennis match.
Stephens proved that she isn't a fluke after defeating Serena Williams in the quarterfinals. She proved agile, strong and speedy. Stephens used all these skills to get past Williams.
Azarenka is the No. 1 ranked player in Women's Singles. She has been healthy throughout the tournament, so Stephens will have to definitely bring her A-game today.
In her five matches, Azarenka has played 11 sets, her opponents won one game or less in six of these sets. Pure dominance. Also, of these 11 sets, she's only lost one.
Turn to Stephens, she's on somewhat on a similar tear, but she's given up more games than Azarenka. Stephens has played 12 sets and dropped only two of them, one more than Azarenka.
The key for Stephens will be dimishing unforced errors. The last thing she wants to do is beat herself.
Both females are having fun, which is the key to everything. Azarenka was caught dancing the dougie outside of the arena with boyfriend Redfoo. Meanwhile, Stephens keeps handing out box tickets since she's a bit short on her entourage.
The winner will face either Maria Sharapova or Na Li in the finals in what should be a very captivating match to watch.
Join us for the live blog, refresh the page and scroll to the top of the article for the latest updates of this matchup.
