Clijsters’ fourth round match against Ana Ivanovic was rescheduled from Monday to Tuesday due to rain. Then, the Belgian had to overcome a 1-5 deficit in the third set to make it to the quarterfinals. Consequently, it was anyone’s guess what physical and emotional toll this would have.

At 1 all, Clijsters committed an error to give Azarenka break point. The Belarusian converted when Clijsters sent a backhand long. Azarenka then comfortably consolidated for a 3-1 edge.

Yet, with Azarenka pushing a forehand long, Clijsters had triple break point. The Belgian capitalized when Azarenka threw in her second double fault of the game.

At that point, Clijsters seemed over her lackadaisical start. However, after having double game point, Clijsters dumped a backhand pass into the net to give Azarenka break point. As a result of a miscue from Clijsters, Azarenka took the game and consolidated for 5-3.

Breaking Clijsters for the third time, Azarenka bagged the opening set.

Subsequent to a quick hold, on a double fault by Clijsters, Azarenka had her second break point of the second set. Azarenka moved in front 2-0 when Clijsters’ forehand landed out of play.

Still, Clijsters fought back breaking right away. Again though after having game point, Clijsters was broken. Azarenka duplicated that achievement Clijsters’ next service game to jump ahead 5-1.

With Azarenka serving, Clijsters dismissed two match points and broke. Clijsters shrunk the gap to 5-3.

At this point, the crowd was still spurring Clijsters on hoping for a repeat of yesterday’s miracle. However, Azarenka would not be denied. On her third match point opportunity, Azarenka sealed the deal.

After the match, Clijsters was asked about what went wrong “Obviously, tonight was going to be very tough. I just didn’t feel good out there mentally, physically, [it] didn’t feel right”.

Whether it could have been too much tennis? Clijsters replied “I don’t know, a combination of a few things. . . Tough last few days, but not in a way that I should not be ready for that. I train hard enough. . . I just didn’t have any fighting spirit. It’s obviously tough against someone like her. Against some lower ranked players maybe it’s possible to get through matches”.

Azarenka had played Clijsters five times prior with only one win. Therefore, MiamiTennisNews inquired what was the difference today. Azarenka responded “ I played a little bit more aggressive. I tried to come in more. That was the biggest difference and physically I was much more stable today”.

Azarenka had a huge lead in the second set in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open in 2010 but found herself on the losing end against Serena Williams. When Clijsters got to 3-5, MiamiTennisNews.com wanted to know if Azarenka had any flashback to the Melbourne match.

Azarenka said “not at all. I don’t care what happened before, I try to forget. I learn from those things and forget them. I was just focused on each point. I don’t really look at the score much. You have to keep going until a chair umpire says, game, set, match.”

Also, Azarenka emphasized “the way tennis is, you can be up 51, match points, have an [easy] ball and still lose the match. So, you have to be really focused on the present moment, not what happened before”.

In the first quarterfinal of the day, Vera Zvonareva vanquished Agnieszka Radwanska 7-5, 6-3. Zvonareva’s last semifinal in Miami was in 2008.

The eight times that Zvonareva and Azarenka have played, the former has come up victorious on six occasions. What will Azarenka have to do differently? She cited “I will have to play on a high level, because she’s a very consistent player. . . I will definitely have to be aggressive and focused on my game to play forward and have fun”.

With a backhand crosscourt winner, Kuznetsova fabricated double break point in the opening game.  Although Radwanska got to deuce, a netted forehand volley and backhand stroke ultimately handed the break to her rival.  Subsequently, Svetlana had a comfortable game to consolidate.  After Agnieszka scored with an ace for 1-2, on her next service trip, with a double fault and forehand down the line winner by Svetlana, the Pole faced double break point again.  This time, Kuznetsova sealed the deal with another crosscourt forehand winner for 4-1.  After Kuznetsova put her guard down the next game, Radwanska broke. But, the Russian aggressive play was rewarded shortly. With the Pole’s weak second serve too inviting to her adversary, Kuznetsova captured another break when Radwanska’s forehand sailed long.  Then, by converting a forehand up the line winner on her serve, Kuznetsova bedded the first set 6-2.

The Russian in the second set continued her great play, getting to deuce after her opponent had two game points.  Later, by forcing two forehand errors from Radwanska, Kuznetsova edged ahead with a break.  Because of sloppy play from her opponent, Radwanska had four chances to get back on serve.  However, by serving well, Kuznetsova held to consolidate at 2-0. Courtesy of a few backhand errors by Kuznetsova, Radwanska secured her first game.  Yet, from that point on, Kuznetsova cruised on serve. At 5-4, the Russian produced an ace for double match point and with an unreturnable serve closed out the championship.

Kuznetsova was the only top ten seed to make it to the semifinals in Beijing. Elena Dementieva, world number 4, and Vera Zvonareva, world number 7, were stopped at the quarterfinal stage.  Dinara Safina, world number 1, and Venus Williams, world number 3, crashed out in the second round. Despite a third round exit, by virtue of Safina’s loss, Serena William becomes number one again on Monday.  Moreover, Radwanska will move from 11th back into the top ten and is well in contention for the eight and final spot at Sony Championships in Doha.