Victoria Azarenka reigns supreme over Li Na to claim the title – Apia Sydney International 2012
A ballistic start to the season for the world number three, Victoria Azarenka, as she overwhelmed the fifth ranked Chinese competitor, Li Na, in the final of the Apia International Sydney on Friday. The third seed Belarusian laboured hard for one hour and
56 minutes of play before wrapping up victory in three sets, 6-2, 1-6, 6-3, to clinch her season-opening championship title at the NSW Tennis Centre, in Sydney, Australia.
While all eyes were fixed on the battle for the top spot between the world number one Caroline Wozniacki and the second ranked Petra Kvitova, 22-year-old Azarenka kept with his with his winning impetus to bag her ninth championship title. She had some real
tough time during the matchup but kept her focus to outplay the fourth seed Chinese opponent in the end, winning the $637,000 WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) Premier-level tournament.
“It was really difficult. I knew at some point I would get a chance, so I just had to stay with her and fight. I kept my composure," Azarenka said. "We showed some incredible tennis out there. Li Na, she's always dangerous, and she proved it again today.
I'm just glad I could overcome her and win this match.”
The Belarusian world number three reduced her deficit in the head-to-head series against Li by 3-4 after her championship victory on Friday. She was off to a flying start in the opening set nailing two serve breaks right up to lead 3-1. Another breakthrough
in the seventh game let Azarenka serve out of the opener at 6-2, getting the upper hand early in the contest.
Tide turned in the following set when the Chinese came out firing at the third seed and nailed two crucial break points in a row to rocket away to 6-1 in no time. She secured 11 out of 14 first serve points and clinched the second set to bring the scores
back on even terms.
Li continued with her rampage in the final set as well and broke the Belarusian serve in the opening game before Azarenka finally retaliated with a break point in the very next game. A regular game was seen in the following five games before the third seed
delivered the final death blow to Li in the eighth game, breaking her serve and then closing out victory at 6-3 to lift the Apia International Sydney championship title. Azarenka will be seeded at number three in the elite field of the Australian Open, starting
in a couple of days.
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