o.1 ranking secured but Azarenka has another prize in mind after dethroning Stosur

Stewart Fisher

Sports Writer

Wednesday 5 September 2012

SAMANTHA STOSUR is no longer the Queen of Queens.

Victoria Azarenka, left, survived a gritty comeback by Samantha Stosur to advance to the last four

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Stewart Fisher

The reigning champion from Australia was dethroned by Victoria Azarenka at Flushing Meadows yesterday in a heartbreaking third set tie-breaker, the Belarusian – who won both a gold and a bronze medal at the London Olympics – guaranteeing herself lasting possession of the top spot in the world rankings with her 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (5) victory.

Azarenka, the No.1 seed here this fortnight, was granted an audience with the visiting Pippa Middleton – a guest of Roger Federer and here with US tycoon Spencer Vegosen – after booking her first ever US Open semi-final, but said afterwards that being top dog by the numbers can be so over-rated. On reflection, she has a point; the last top seed to win the title at the US Open was Justine Henin back in 2007, and Serena Williams has designs on extending that record for another year."It means a lot," said Azarenka, who won her only Grand Slam title in Australia in January. "But it's nothing like lifting a trophy, honestly. I cannot compare this feeling to winning a tournament. It's just a number. It's a great achievement, something you work really hard for your whole life to be, but it just doesn't compare."Stosur had to be content with retaining the affections of the crowd. The Australian, who beat Serena Williams in the final here 12 months ago, toiled badly during a rain interrupted first set, but is made of stern stuff and thrilled the Arthur Ashe arena as she dug in to take matters to their climactic finale. After four straight service breaks, a decisive breaker was needed, and again Stosur was fighting back from the brink. From 0-4 down it was soon back to 5-5, but Azarenka benefited from a net cord to play a cute drop shot to set up match point. When Stosur mistimed a forehand the match belonged to Belarus. "Being first time in the semi-finals is an incredible feeling," Azarenka said. "I don't want to stop. I want it bad."While Azarenka waited amid the showers to discover her semi-final opponent, Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci, the Italian success story in this tournament, warmed up for their imminent quarter-final by defeating Julia Goerges of Germany and Kveta Peschke of the Czech Republic 6-2, 7-6 (2) in the doubles.

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o.1 ranking secured but Azarenka has another prize in mind after dethroning Stosur

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