---
title: "Kerber thwarts Azarenka comeback to reach semi-finals"
description: "MELBOURNE, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Angelique Kerber advanced to her first Australian Open semi-final with a 6-3 7-5 win over Victoria Azarenka in a see-sawing quarter-final on Wednesday."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Newsdeck"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-01-27-kerber-thwarts-azarenka-comeback-to-reach-semi-finals/"
published: "2016-01-27T04:59:34"
updated: "2016-01-27T05:04:12"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 115
---

# Kerber thwarts Azarenka comeback to reach semi-finals

> MELBOURNE, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Angelique Kerber advanced to her first Australian Open semi-final with a 6-3 7-5 win over Victoria Azarenka in a see-sawing quarter-final on Wednesday.

By Reuters · Published 27 January 2016, 06:59 SAST · Updated 27 January 2016, 07:04 SAST

## Content

Twice champion Azarenka had lost just 11 games in her previous four matches at the tournament but found herself 4-0 down in the first set, which German Kerber went on to take in 48 minutes.

Azarenka mounted a comeback in the second set and had a chance to serve it out at 5-2 but seventh seed Kerber saved three set points, then saved two more in the 10th game to level the set at 5-5.

Kerber kept up the pressure and clinched the match in one hour, 45 minutes. She next faces the winner of the quarter-final between Chinese qualifier Zhang Shuai and unseeded Briton Johanna Konta.

(Reporting by Greg Stutchbury; Editing by Peter Rutherford)