Maria Sharapova goes through Victoria Azarenka to take the crown - Porsche Tennis Grand Prix 2012
World number two, Maria Sharapova, was lucky third time against the reigning world number one, Victoria Azarenka, at the red clay courts of Stuttgart, Germany. On Sunday, the Russian tennis icon sliced her opponent in straight
sets 6-1, 6-4 to gather her first title of the season.
The final of Porsche Tennis Grand Prix featured one-sided show for an hour and 24 minutes. It was all about the Russian former world number one who was making her playing her maiden tournament in Stuttgart.
Glad on conquering the Belarusian in her third final of the year, the Russian said, “This was such a tough tournament with such difficult opponents, so I'm just happy to be the champion. I came to Europe this year a bit earlier
than I usually do. I added this to my schedule and was going to use it as a warm-up tournament for the clay court season. But maybe I should start doing it every year since it's obviously working for me."
She further added, "I had lost the last few previous encounters with Victoria, so I was extremely motivated today. When I got the chance to go out and play her again I knew I had to change a few things.”
Sharapova was on top of her game from the start; breaking her competitor’s serve in the second game and having her tail up throughout the set. Some breathtaking winners and eye-startling cross-court returns entertained the crowd
thoroughly who wanted such a compact error-free performance from the Russian.
Azarenka had an opportunity to win back the breakpoint in the fifth game but she squandered it and soon dropped another serve game to go down 1-5. Sharapova ended the first set with a thunderous ace and had a shoulder bump with
the Belarusian while crossing over the net.
The cruel battering from the second seed continued in the second set as well but Azarenka kept on dodging the luck until she had to stoop down to the 6’2 tall Russian. The Belarusian saved back-to-back breakpoints in the fifth
game but couldn’t stop the onslaught of her counterpart in the following serve game; went down to a trail of 3-4 that was soon elongated to 3-5 courtesy a thumping a serving hold for the Russian.
Soon after, the Russian raised her hands and punched the air several times to enjoy the glory of winning the title on her debut appearance. The tour of Madrid and Rome are up next for the gorgeous Russia.
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