If Victoria Azarenka’s streak keeps going, Petra Kvitova will be the 2011 Wimbledon champion.
In her previous eight tournaments, Azarenka lost six matches - each against the eventual titlist. And on Thursday, the 21-year-old Belarusian was eliminated by Kvitova 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 in the semifinals at the All England Club.
“If you can say its bad luck, I don’t know. Maybe I’m just the one who gives so much confidence or whatever,” Azarenka joked. “But, yeah, I think I’m playing always somebody who is in great form, but I have to take it.”
At No. 4, Azarenka was the highest seeded player left in the tournament, ahead of former champion Maria Sharapova. But it was Kvitova who dictated the match on Centre Court with her powerful serve and aggressive groundstrokes.
Azarenka hit only nine winners compared to Kvitova’s 40. Azarenka, who has won seven titles on the WTA Tour, said her positive outlook shouldn’t be seen as a meek acceptance of her loss.
“I’m not going to sit and cry here that I lost the match,” she said. “But I am disappointed. “But I have to keep working hard. I’m just going to go rest a little bit, regroup, and get ready for the hard-court season. There is no other way.”
“I think I’m getting more and more mature in every way in the game, physically and mentally,” she said. “So I have to take it step by step. “I did a little bit closer to the title, to the finals, whatever. But, as I said, I just have to keep working hard. I have nothing to doubt. I have nothing to regret today. I just have to look forward.”
