Polish fifth seed Agnieszka Radwanska says all the pressure is on defending champion Victoria Azarenka ahead of their Australian Open quarter-final clash.
Radwanska booked her place in the final eight with an impressive 6-1 6-3 over rising Spanish star Garbine Muguruza while Azarenka swept aside American Sloane Stephens in straight sets.
While happy with her performance against Muguruza, Radwanska knows she will have to step up to topple the world No.2.
“I have to even play better to beat her,” she said.
“Obviously, she’s playing great tennis.
“I really have nothing to lose now but she’s defending champion and has won here twice.”
Radwanska had a slow start to the year, which included an early exit at the Sydney International where she was defending her title, but felt she had improved with each match at the Open.
It’s her fourth successive appearance in the final eight at Melbourne Park.
Losing their past seven meetings, Radwanska knows she will have to take her chances against Azarenka, who wouldn’t gift her many free points.
“I think she’s very consistent and is always playing on a good level,” Radwanska said.
“You really have to win the match by yourself because she’s not giving you any free points.”
Azarenka, who is attempting to win her third successive crown at Melbourne Park, said she didn’t consider herself the stand-out favourite despite the elimination of world No.1 Serena Williams and third seed Maria Sharapova.
“By the rankings, probably yes. But by the game, I don’t consider myself just a favourite because I don’t consider anybody as the favourite,” she said.
“I just go out there and play my best, because anybody on any given day – we’ve seen that happen last couple days – can bring their best game.
“The way I approach the matches, I have to be ready 100 per cent for every player.”
The world No.2 said she was always hungry for success at the start of the year.
“The motivation is there; you’re hungry to play,” she said.
“It’s a little bit tougher mentally in the end of the season, especially that last run after the four grand slams are done.”
