<p>On Friday, in different ways, former Grand Slam winners Victoria Azarenka and Elena Rybakina advanced to the semi-finals of the Brisbane International, which opened the season.</p>
<p><img decoding=”async” class=”alignnone wp-image-339507″ src=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/theindiaprint.com-victoria-azarenka-and-elena-rybakina-past-grand-slam-champions-advance-to-the-semi.jpg” alt=”theindiaprint.com victoria azarenka and elena rybakina past grand slam champions advance to the semi” width=”1071″ height=”600″ title=”Victoria Azarenka and Elena Rybakina, past Grand Slam champions, advance to the semifinals of the Brisbane International 6″ srcset=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/theindiaprint.com-victoria-azarenka-and-elena-rybakina-past-grand-slam-champions-advance-to-the-semi.jpg 300w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/theindiaprint.com-victoria-azarenka-and-elena-rybakina-past-grand-slam-champions-advance-to-the-semi-150×84.jpg 150w” sizes=”(max-width: 1071px) 100vw, 1071px” /></p>
<p>In the first round at Pat Rafter Arena, Azarenka ultimately defeated third-seeded Latvian Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, although it took her two hours and thirty minutes.</p>
<p>The Australian Open, which the 34-year-old Azarenka won in 2012 and 2013, is being warmed up for by the Brisbane event.</p>
<p>Rybakina of Kazakhstan was subsequently guaranteed a position in the last four when Anastasia Potapova, her Russian opponent, withdrew due to a stomach ailment after falling down 6-1 in the first set.</p>
<p>As the match went on, Ostapenko started to rediscover her game and duly leveled the scores. Initially, Azarenka seemed in control as she won the opening set with only one break of service.</p>
<p>In the third set, Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open winner, held her serve with ease while Azarenka found it difficult to maintain hers.</p>
<p>However, the Latvian broke down at 5-6 and served to force a tiebreak, which allowed Belarus to win because to a subpar serving performance.</p>
<p>In the last four, Azarenka will face either Daria Kasatkina or top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka.</p>
<p>Azarenka said, “I thought the tennis was incredible.” I had to stay in there because she was destroying refunds and winnings.</p>
<p>“I think my game is pretty good, and I was curious to see how it would match up this year.”</p>
<p>When Potapova requested that the trainer tend to what seemed to be a stomach ailment, Rybakina raced to a 4-1 lead in another quarterfinal.</p>
<p>After losing the first set against Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon winner, she played the following two games but withdrew.</p>
<p>Next up for Rybakina is either Linda Noskova or Mirra Andreeva.</p>
<p>Roman Safiullin of Russia defeated Matteo Arnaldi of Italy 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 in the men’s draw to advance to the semi-finals, where he would face either Australian qualifier James Duckworth or top-seeded Dane Holger Rune.</p>
<p>Jordan Thompson is Rafael Nadal’s opponent in the quarterfinal round on Friday.</p>