Azarenka on brink of Indian Wells history
Victoria Azarenka is one win away from becoming the first three-time winner of the WTA Indian Wells Open after rallying past Jelena Ostapenko in the semi-finals.
After dropping the opening set, two-time Indian Wells champion Azarenka stormed back to outlast the 2017 French Open winner on Saturday (AEDT).
Standing in the way of Azarenka and history is Paula Badosa, who eased past Ons Jabeur in the second semi-final in the Californian desert.
Winner of the Indian Wells Open in 2012 and 2016, Azarenka is back in the decider thanks to a stirring 3-6 6-3 7-5 comeback against fellow seed Ostapenko.
Former world No.1 Azarenka was down a set and a break before the No.27 seed fought back to prevail over Ostapenko in two hours, 20 minutes.
By seeing off No.24 seed Ostapenko, two-time grand slam champion Azarenka celebrated her 33rd match win at Indian Wells; only two women have won more matches at the tournament, Lindsay Davenport (47) and Maria Sharapova (38).
"I think my season has been tricky," Azarenka said. "There were parts where I physically couldn't necessarily bring that extra level, extra fight, which was very frustrating. Then there were parts where I felt that I was looking for something to add, and I didn't necessarily know what it was. It was a lot of searching in the season, a lot of kind of stepping into unknown.
"I feel like right now I'm a bit more settled with a bit more structure, a little bit more discipline, which makes it not necessarily easier but a bit clearer what I need to do. So it doesn't take extra energy on that, so I can kind of focus my energy more on the fighting for every ball."
Spaniard Badosa added another scalp to her name by trumping No.12 seed Jabeur 6-3 6-3.
Looking to become the first Spanish woman to win the Indian Wells Open, 21st seed Badosa made light work of Jabeur.
Badosa's success means she has beaten four top-20 opponents en route to the final, having stunned Angelique Kerber in the quarter-finals.
Having won her first title earlier this year in Belgrade, Badosa will feature in her second career WTA decider.
