Sabalenka stops Azarenka to reach Montreal semis

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus prepares to hit a return ball during her Womens Singles Quarterfinals match against Victoria Azarenka of Belarus on Day Five of the National Bank Open presented by Rogers at IGA Stadium. Pic/AFP

Aryna Sabalenka won a battle of Belarus on Friday, denying compatriot Victoria Azarenka the chance to return to the Top 10 with a 6-2, 6-4 victory at the WTA Montreal Masters.

Azaranka, 32, with two Australian Open titles to her credit, last ranked in the elite group five years ago before motherhood. The quarter-final success for top seed Sabalenka took 82 minutes, with the big-serving winner adding seven aces to her season's WTA-leading total of 265.

Sabalenka will next meet fourth seed Karolina Pliskova after the Czech defeated Spain's Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-4, 6-0. Pliskova stopped Sabalenka in their last meeting, a Wimbledon semi-final in July.

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