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Tennis star Azarenka becomes first Belarusian to reach world’s No. 4

Tennis star Victoria Azarenka became the first Belarusian to reach No. 4 in the world after progressing into the final of the $4.5-million Mutua Madrid Open.

The 21-year-old cruised past Julia Goerges of Germany in the semifinal 6-4, 6-2 on Saturday and will face the Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova in the final on May 8. Irrespective of whether she will lose or win, Ms. Azarenka will be ranked fourth in the world starting next week.

The Belarusian has won 19 of her last 21 matches now — and both losses were injury retirements. She has already won seven titles in her career.

Natasha Zvereva, who represented the Soviet Union and later Belarus, reached No. 5 in the world at some point in her career but never achieved a higher ranking. //BelaPAN