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Azarenka brought an end to a losing streak, Safarova looking to do the same today

Azarenka was 0-4 against Venus until yesterday, having lost all the matches in straight sets. Safarova is 0-6 against Azarenka but they last time they met was 4 years ago. Safarova is a different player now and Azarenka knows it full well. She points out that Safarova is very confident and that this will be a good challenge.

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Safarova will have her best ranking ever as of Monday, which is sort of a reward for 8 wins in the last 10 matches and everything she did last and early this season. 

- I lost a few close matches early this season but that sometimes happens. I have worked really hard in preseason, I'm improving my level and I enjoyed playing.

Safarova left her opponents with no chance in the last 2 matches, she was dominant in her service games, fired powerful shots, played her pace from the start, and managed to keep her level up throughout the matches, in which she hit a lot of winners. She was also clearly very happy with her performances:

- This is my first final this season. I played very well and I'm very happy for it.

She beat Suarez in semifinals after Suarez won their last 2 matches against tall Czech players. Her firceness and determination made the difference in those two but neither of those things helped against Safarova. Suarez said that left-handed players don't suit her at all and that she has problems when faced against them. The match with Safarova only proved it. 

- I felt confident from the star, I felt my game was working well against Suarez. The plan was to play aggressive on her forehand side because she's a very good when defending. She can also play great backhands and I tried to push her forehand side more - Safarova said after advancing through to finals.

Azarenka pointed out that she hopes her recent improvements will help her bring the losing streak against Venus to an end. She was on a 4-match losing run with the American, having lost all 4 in straight sets. The first set they played yesterday got us believing that Azarenka was headed for yet another defeat to Venus, who started of great, forced her game on the opponent and got her into problems.

- I saw Venus play this well after a long time. Especially in the first set. She controlled the pace, went after her shots, while I wasn't fast enough. I didn't know what to do and I had to find my chance of a comeback. I had to change something after the first set because that would have been a one-sided win otherwise - Azarenka said.

She started taking more risk as the match advanced, she was more direct, more aggressive, she took initiative and got back into the match. Venus was declining towards the end, with three matches in three sets clearly leaving a trace on her.

- I took over the control in the second set - Azarenka said and then talked about her opponents this week:

- I feel like everyone did their absolute best against me. It's one of those weeks when everyone does great and I only hope the next weeks won't be as tough. This will be a very long year otherwise.

Azarenka is now on a 14-game winning streak in Doha. It's a respectful run, she's done well here this year and finally managed to end the losing streak against Venus. Her next opponent is also looking to end a streak - Safarova doesn't have a single win in their 6 head-to-head matches, having won only one set in the last one that took place 4 years ago.

Safarova is not a completely different player, with both her ranking and her performances proving it. Last year, she proved she is at the level of top players but that she needs more confidence to win matches against them. They were all very tough and close, almost always ending in 3 sets. Azarenka knows she's in for a very tough task today.

- Safarova's confidence is running high and she's been dong great since last season. I'm sure this will be a good challenger and I will have to be ready for it.