US Open 2013 preview: Women’s quarter-final

4) Daniela Hantuchova vs Victoria Azarenka (Head to Head: 2-2)

Victoria Azarenka

Daniela Hantuchova has been the surprise package of the tournament, progressing through to this far at a Grand Slam only for the second time, after an Australian Open semifinal appearance in 2008. Hantuchova had last made it to the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows when she was a teenager way back in 2002.

On her way to the quarters, the Slovakian has had to dig deep by winning in a final set tie break as well as overcome Petra Kvitova, Alison Riske to book a last eight berth. However, Hantuchova will have to pull up her socks if she has to outplay world number 2 Victoria Azarenka in the last eight clash.

Azarenka has not had a smooth run at the US Open so far, being stretched to the deciding set in her last two matches but she has fought well to stay alive in the tournament. A head-to-head of two apiece only suggests the periods in which these two have played each other with Hantuchova’s wins coming at a time when she was more dominant on the women’s circuit and likewise for Azarenka.

Overall, it appears that if Azarenka controls her unforced errors and replicates her form from Cincinnati, she would be the firm favorite to book a semifinal spot.

Prediction: Azarenka wins in straight sets.