In their quarterfinal today, the Belarusian didn't get much of a chance to pump up the decibels. She was given the run-around by the wily Radwanska, who played probably the best match of her career.
On more than one ocassion, she was planted at the net, waiting for Azarenka to smash the ball left or right. Somehow, the fifth seed picked the right way to lunge, both times she volleyed true and took the point.
Azarenka went into the game looking for her 19th straight win at Melbourne Park, another step on her campaign for a hat-trick of Aus Opens.
She was taken apart 6-1 in the first set, just stayed in the hunt by winning the second set, before her game completely fell apart in the decider to be bounced out with a bagel.
It was an ignonimous way for the defending champion to go out, but this tournament has had its share of upsets. Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and Ana Ivanovic to name a few.
Radwanska is a wizard with the racquet. Her touch and composure against Azarenka was exquisite. The soon-to-be 25-year-old has made the final four in Melbourne for the last four years. This is her first semi-final appearance and fifth seed will meet Dominika Cibulkova, who will also be playing her first Open semi.
The diminutive Slovakian took down Sharapova and today never let Simona Halep find any rhthym.
The Romanian crashed out 6-3, 6-0 - dazed by the whirlwind of movement and power that is Cibulkova.
Whoever wins the women's final will be celebrating their first Open title. Li Na has been to the big dance twice, and is in the box seat for a breakthrough Melbourne grand slam.
But her semi-final opponent Eugenie Bouchard, although just 19, has the raw self-belief to go all the way.
In the men's, Grigor Dimitrov has brought the same bullish self-confidence, and dizzying ability.
The Bulgarian blew Rafael Nadal off the court in the opening set of their quarterfinal, smashing eight aces on his way to a 6-3 win.
Nadal knew he was in the fight of his life. With tape flailing off his shredded left hand, the 'bull' dug deep to take the second 7-6. He shook with passion, roaring at the crowd in a show of guttural emotion we haven't seen from Rafa in a long while.
The 13-time grand slam winner went to take the match in four sets. Dimitrov squandered three set points in the third, and from there, he was struggling.
Rafa had won 21 of 25 quarter finals at grand slams, and he wasn't going to let this one slip. He might be wounded, but the bull came out victorious.
A second Australian Open remains within reach. He faces the winner of tonight's Federer v Murray match. There will no doubt be more heroics as the Open keeps serving up great drama and theatre.
