Unfazed by her dire record against Serena Williams, Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka is looking to create her own slice of history in Thursday night’s marquee Wimbledon semi-final.
Azarenka has lost seven of her eight career meetings with Williams – five in grand slam encounters – with her only win over the American diva coming back in 2008.
Williams thumped Azarenka for the loss of just five games in their only previous clash at Wimbledon, in 2009, and leads the Belarusian 16-1 in sets.
But the new and vastly improved Azarenka, who opened 2012 in blazing fashion with 26 straight wins and landed her maiden grand slam crown at Melbourne Park, couldn’t care less.
“Every time she plays against me, she plays really well no matter where it is. I don’t really care about that,” Azarenka said.
“I don’t really like to look back in history because every time you step on the court it’s a new story. You kind of write your own history every time.”
Williams is shooting for her 14th grand slam title, but first in two years, and has slammed down 61 aces in her first five matches.
“She has a huge serve, which we all know,” Azarenka said.
“Every player that played against her felt that. It’s definitely an asset.
“She’s definitely a very tough opponent. She’s a great champion.
“Obviously she’s a great fighter. She never gives up. You always see that – no matter what the score is, she will go for her shots.
“It’s going to be a tough match no matter what.
“But that’s what you kind of expect to have in the semi-finals.
“We’ll see.”
Champion in 2002, 2003, 2009 and 2010, and runner-up in 2004 and 2008, sixth-seeded Williams is considered a clear favourite.
But that hasn’t stopped the former world No.1 from playing the underdog card.
“Right now, if Victoria wins, she’s had a better year than I have,” Williams said.
“She’s been so successful already, winning a grand slam.
“Going against a player like that, I feel like she almost has an advantage, I guess.
“So that makes me really relaxed and I can just kind of hit.”
The Williams versus Azarenka clash follows Thursday’s first women’s semi-final between Polish third seed Agnieszka Radwanska and German eighth seed Angelique Kerber, starting at 10pm AEST.
