By ,
Published May 02, 2016
Doha, Qatar (SportsNetwork.com) - Two-time champion Victoria Azarenka and Czech left-hander Lucie Safarova will battle in Saturday's final at the Qatar Open tennis event.
Friday's marquee semifinal saw the Belarusian wild card Azarenka tackle seventh-seeded fellow former world No. 1 Venus Williams, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4.
"Venus was kicking my butt left and right and I didn't know what to do. In the second set I took control," said Azarenka.
The 34-year-old American and seven-time Grand Slam champion Williams had been 4-0 lifetime against the two-time Australian Open titlist Azarenka.
Azarenka was a back-to-back Doha champ in 2012 and 2013.
The 25-year-old Azarenka is 17-15 in her career WTA finals and seeking her first title since 2013.
The other semi saw Safarova oust ninth-seeded Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro, 6-3, 6-2, on a blustery day on the hardcourts at Khalifa International Tennis Complex.
"It's so exciting! It's my first final this year, and I've been playing so well in all my matches, so I'm really, really happy," Safarova said.
After an up and down start to the season, Safarova has now won eight of her last 10 matches. The turnaround, which will be rewarded by a career-high ranking on Monday morning, comes as no surprise to the Czech: "It wasn't a struggle at the start of the year. I lost a couple of close matches -- it happens sometimes. But I worked really hard in the off season and I my level has been going up, so I'm enjoying playing."
The 28-year-old Safarova is 5-7 in her career finals and also seeking her first title since 2013.
The 48th-ranked Azarenka is 6-0 lifetime against the No. 15 Safarova. They haven't met since 2011.
Saturday's titlist will claim $124,000.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/azarenka-safarova-will-decide-champ-in-doha