Why Elena Rybakina’s ‘unplayable’ serve could be key in Victoria Azarenka semi-final clash – Laura Robson

Eurosport expert Laura Robson believes Elena Rybakina’s “unplayable” serve could be key in her semi-final showdown against the resurgent Victoria Azarenka on Thursday.

Rybakina, who won her maiden Grand Slam title at Wimbledon last year, will now be chasing more success in Melbourne.

But she now faces a tough test in the semi-finals against two-time Australian Open champion Azarenka.

“She’s been there before and she’s been sneaking through the draw,” Robson about Rybakina on Eurosport’s Australian Open coverage.

“But it will depend on how Rybakina serves, because it is an unplayable shot at the moment, whether Azarenka takes a couple of steps back and gives her a different look on the return position, we’ll see tomorrow, but I think those first couple of games, they’ll feel each other out.

“Interestingly for Rybakina, she hits a lot of her forehands cross court, and once you start to notice those patterns, I think it gives Azarenka a bit of an opening.

“And, Rybakina’s regular rally ball, if you’re hitting it to her forehand, 99% of the time unless it’s a short ball, she’s going to go back across court, so I think Azarenka’s definitely going to take notice of that in the first couple of games.”

“Pegula takes the ball earlier than Rybakina but the serve is a much bigger weapon I think from Rybakina,” he said.

“She can take the racquet out of your hand so it will be interesting to see what Vika can come up with against someone who’s that powerful.

However, former British No. 1 Tim Henman claimed that it is important that the 22nd seed does not become complacent against the two-time champion, as the Belarusian looks to roll back the years and emulate what she achieved back in 2013 when she defeated Li Na in three sets to win the title.

“It’s important that Rybakina doesn’t underestimate Azarenka. In the round before, Azarenka was pretty ordinary, there were a lot of breaks of serve and then she comes up against Pegula, who I think has been playing the best tennis in the world this year and she only drops five games,” said Eurosport expert Henman.

“I think Azarenka will fancy getting back in that winner’s circle, so it just adds to the intrigue of that semi-final.”

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