Azarenka storms into quarterfinals at Qatar total open

World No.1 and the top seed Victoria Azarenka of Belarus Thursday stormed into the quarterfinals of the US $ 2.2 million Qatar Total Open with a straight-set demolition of Simona Halep of Romania. Despite trailing 1-3 in the first set, Azarenka reeled off 11 games thereafter before sealing the match 6-3, 6-1 in 80 minutes of power tennis. It was her 14th consecutive win this season. Azarenka won titles in Sydney and the Australian Open in Melbourne last month. "I started really slow but I am glad I turned it around afterwards," Azarenka said "I kept my composure. I love coming to Doha. It is a great event," Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) quoted her as saying. In the quarterfinals on Friday, Azarenka will play Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium. On Thursday, Wickmayer crushed Ksenia Pervak of Kazhakstan 6-4, 6-0. Wickmayer, who had never played Pervak on the Tour before their clash on Thursday, struggled in the first set but later wasted little timein sealing the match in 68 minutes. Winner of three career singles titles, Wickmayer fired 2 aces. Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska, seeded fourth in Doha, saved a set point in the first before racing away to victory against Varvara Lepchenko of the USA. The third-round clash lasted 90 minutes on the Centre Court. Lepchenko broke Radwanksa in the nine game to go up 5-4 in the first set but the Polish star fought back by winning the next three games in succession. In the second set, Radwanksa crushed Lepchneko with easy, cruising to win. "Actually, she was playing really well in the first set. I did not play well but she did and took the lead as well," Radwanska said. "I lost my serve also but then I fought for each point. I am happy to come through by fighting on court. I won the first set at the end of it all," she added. "I stayed focused in the second set. I did well in the second set. I think it is enjoyable to come and play here," Radwanska said. In the quarterfinals, Radwanska will play Christina McHale of the US. McHale on Thursday rallied from a set down to beat Shahar Peer McHael won 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in 2 hours and 11 minutes. The 19-year-old American fired 3 aces. In another match Thursday, Monica Niculescu of Romania beat Kateryn Bondarenko of Ukraine. Niculesco won 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 in 1 hour 55 minutes.