Tennis-Vintage Azarenka downs Pegula to make Australian Open semis

Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 24, 2023 Belarus' Victoria Azarenka celebrates winning the first set of her quarter final match against Jessica Pegula of the U.S. REUTERS/Carl Recine

MELBOURNE (Reuters) -Victoria Azarenka rolled back the years at the Australian Open on Tuesday as the two-times champion crushed third seed Jessica Pegula 6-4 6-1 to reach the semi-finals and remain on course for her third Grand Slam crown.

Victory marked the first time in a decade that the 33-year-old had made it to the last-four at Melbourne Park and she will make her first appearance in a major semi-final since the U.S. Open in 2020 where she went on to lose in the title clash.