Three-time champion Victoria Azarenka, seeded 27th, defeated Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan 7-6 (7-4), 1-6, 6-3 in the women’s singles quarter-finals of the Miami Open on March 26 to reach the semi-finals.

Azarenka, who won the Miami Open in 2009, 2011 and 2016, was forced into a close match that lasted nearly three hours against a spirited Putintseva, but she overcame a 45-minute interruption due to a power outage to reach the semi-finals.

“I’ve been on tour for 20 years and I still feel like I’m getting better,” the 34-year-old Azarenka said after the match. “That’s something I wouldn’t trade for anything and I want to keep going.”

She will next face fourth seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan for a spot in the final.

Rubakina, the highest seed remaining, beat eighth seed Maria Sakkari of Greece 7-5, 6-7 (4-7), 6-4 in three sets, also beating Sakkari after a hard-fought two hours and 48 minutes. (c)AFP/Simon EVANS