Indian Wells: Victory for Victoria Azarenka

Victoria Azarenka returns to Magdalena Rybarikova in their BNP Paribas Open women’s singles quarter-finals in California on Thursday. Azarenka won 6-0, 6-0. (Photo: AP)

Victoria Azarenka barely broke a sweat as the former world number one routed Slovakia’s Magdalena Rybarikova 6-0, 6-0 to reach the Indian Wells semi-finals on Thursday.

Two-time Grand Slam winner Azarenka is also a former champion in the joint WTA and ATP Tour tournament, taking the title in 2012 when she beat Maria Sharapova.

“I started well. I was really aggressive. The start was the key for me,” said Azarenka, who reached the Australian Open quarterfinals this year.

There have been nine women’s draw double bagels in Indian Wells’ history but Maria Sharapova was involved in the most noteworthy when she was slammed 6-0, 6-0 by Lindsay Davenport in the semifinal of the 2005 tournament.

Sharapova did not take part this year because of a failed drug test and is awaiting a possible suspension from the WTA Tour.

It is the first double bagel in Indian Wells since 2014 when Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska hammered Annika Beck in the round of 32.

Rybarikova had to take an injury time out for a right leg problem in the second set and played the remainder of the match with the injury heavily bandaged.

Only two of the top 12 seeds on the women’s side of the draw have reached the semi-finals — number one Serena Williams and number three Radwanska.

Daria Kasatkina's surprising run at Indian Wells came to an abrupt halt when she was humbled 6-3, 6-2 by Czech Karolina Pliskova.

Raonic to play Goffin in men’s semis Meanwhile, in the men’s draw, Canadian no. 1 Milos Raonic advanced to his second consecutive Indian Wells semi-final with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Frenchman Gael Monfils.

The meeting under the lights on the main stadium court was a contrast in styles with the hard-serving Raonic overpowering the grease-lightning speed and athleticism of Monfils.

“I am happy with the way I competed, and at the end of the day what counts the most is I took care of my serve,” Raonic said.

Raonic, who just returned from a six-week layoff due to a torn thigh muscle, was unable to play in the Davis Cup earlier this month when Canada lost 0-5 to France.

Raonic also beat Monfils in the quarter-finals in January at the Australian Open before losing in the semis to Andy Murray, while feeling the effects of the thigh injury.

But there was no gloating from Raonic Thursday when asked if this was revenge for France’s rout over Canada at the Davis Cup.

“I’m not the guy that holds a grudge. I have one guy across the net that wants something that I want more. I really wish I could have been there in Guadeloupe,” Raonic said.

Raonic moves on to the semis where he will face world number 18 David Goffin, who surprised 10th seeded Marin Cilic 7-6 (7/4), 6-2.