Victoria Azarenka vs. Maria Sharapova: Final Preview – BNP Paribas Open 2012
Rematch for the Australian Open tournament is set to commence on the eve of Saturday. World number one, Victoria Azarenka, is hungry for her 23rd consecutive triumph whilst the second seed Russian starlet, Maria Sharapova,
is all set to have her revenge of January’s loss at the hard courts of the Indian Wells, California. It will be another eye-catching battle between the two ‘scream’ queens of tennis.
Both contestants are looking to rip each other apart and put their bodies on the line for the premier Women Tennis Association title. They were almost unplayable throughout the tournament dropping just one set on their way to the
title match.
Azarenka has defeated 14th seed German, Julia Goerges, fifth seed Pole, Agnieszka Radwanska and 18th seed German, Angelique Kerber, in the previous three rounds of the tournament.
Sharapova on the other hand has nailed down the likes of 21st seed Italian, Roberta Vinci, 20th seed compatriot, Maria Kirilenko and the 15th seed Serb, Ana Ivanovic, in her last three matches of
BNP Paribas Open.
Belarusian tennis icon leads the head-to-head scores by 4-3. She is the favourite competitor to win the contest but no one can write off Sharapova’s chances at all. Their rivalry started way back in 2007 when the 22-years-old Belarusian
ousted the Russian in straight sets during the second round clash of the Kremlin Cup in Moscow.
The Russian pounced back on her opponent with a couple of wins in 2009 during the East West Bank Classic and China Open. Top seed tied the head-to-head scores with a win in the final of Bank of the West Classic and took lead after
winning another Women Tennis Association title in Miami.
Sharapova defeated her in Rome last year after she was being bullied across the courts of Melbourne in the grand finale of the Australian Open, earlier this year. Both women are the top two ranked players in the world. It will
be a world class battle considering that Sharapova is fired up to avenge her loss.
The 24-years-old Russian has the opportunity to become the first player in the world of women tennis to oust the Belarusian for the first time this season. Otherwise, Azarenka will grab her fourth successive title of the year and
will enhance her unbeaten streak to 23-0.
Talking about the final of Indian Wells, Sharapova is recorded to have said, “I'd love to get my revenge from Australia and play much better, as well. In our previous meetings we had really tough matches and I hope the quality
of tennis will be good and hopefully I can change a few things around this time.”
Azarenka is in sublime run of form and will be fuming with confidence on Saturday eve. Sharapova can play smart and junk the Belarusian by going out with an all-round onslaught. If she manages to gobble up few early breakpoints
in the early stages of the sets than she is definitely in with a chance to win her maiden Women Tennis Association title of the year.
We all will have to wait and watch!!
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