Top-seeded Victoria Azarenka of Belarus earned a hard-fought 6-1 4-6 7- 6(5) victory over World No. 7 Samantha Stosur of Australia on Tuesday at Flushing Meadows and secured her berth in the semi-final of the 2012 US Open. The Aussie Open champion Azarenka earned this well-deserved victory in the end to make it to the US Open semis for the first time in her career.Azarenka also ensured that she would stay No. 1 now, even if she loses in the next round.

Re-live the excitement of this duel!

The World No. 1 Azarenka literally pounced upon Stosur from the word "Go" and did not look back until she won the first set convincingly. Stosur saw first four games rolling before her eyes in a whisker as Azarenka did not offer her any freebies and then make it look easier in the end - by winning the first set.

The defending champion bounced back by winning the second-set. The Australian started the second-set on a high note by breaking the World No. 1 and then exchanged breaks, but maintained the lead after getting the crucial break in the seventh game and took the match into the final set.

Both contenders played magnificently and poorly at the same time in the final set – and exchanged frequent breaks. And, then it reached the tie-breaker which was won by the World No. 1 Azarenka and she secured her berth in the semi-final.