Azarenka comes through panic attack to set up Li final

Women semis singlesAzarenka def Stephens 6-1, 6-4Li def Sharapova 6-2, 6-2Men semisDjokovic def Ferrer 6-2, 6-2, 6-1MELBOURNE – Defending champion Victoria Azarenka suffered a panic attack trying to close out her Australian Open semi-final against American teenager Sloane Stephens on Thursday and needed a long medical timeout before setting up a final against Li Na.Immovable object Li had earlier laid waste to the supposedly irresistible force of Maria Sharapova on a blazing hot day on Rod Laver Arena to reach her second Melbourne Park final.Azarenka complained of knee and rib injuries but was clearly struggling for breath as she headed off court for a lengthy timeout after failing to convert five match points towards the end of her 6-1 6-4 victory.“I almost did the choke of the year right now,” the world number one said at courtside. “At 5-3 having so many chances, couldn’t close it out but I’m glad I could close it out. Nerves got into me for sure.Sixth seed Li’s 6-2 6-2 victory over four-times grand slam winner Sharapova was more comprehensive and the 30-year-old Chinese now gets a chance to add another to her impressive list of firsts in Saturday’s final.The Australian Open markets itself as the “Grand Slam of the Asia-Pacific” and Li, whose first trip to the Melbourne Park final ended in defeat to Kim Clijsters in 2011, has a second chance to give the tournament its first Asian champion.Djokovic demolishes Ferrer Defending champion Novak Djokovic thrashed David Ferrer to reach the Australian Open final and stay on course for a hat-trick of Melbourne titles.Djokovic had too much pace on the ground and off his strings for the Spaniard, winning 6-2 6-2 6-1 in one hour and 29 minutes.“I played incredible tennis,” he said. “I felt very confident and comfortable from the start. It was definitely one of the best performances I ever had in my career.”

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Azarenka comes through panic attack to set up Li final