Saturday, January 26, 2013
Azarenka eyes second straight Australian Open crown
By Ian Ransom
MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Defending champion Victoria Azarenka will bid for back-to-back titles at Melbourne Park on Saturday when she takes on China's late-blooming Li Na in the final of the Australian Open.
Victoria Azarenka of Belarus hits a return during a practice session at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 25, 2013. REUTERS/Toby MelvilleThe 23-year-old Belarusian holds a 5-4 career record against former French Open champion Li, including the last four of their encounters.
Li, however, has prevailed in both their grand slam clashes, including her run to the 2011 final at Melbourne Park where she was overhauled by Belgian Kim Clijsters in three sets.
Both players are bidding for their second grand slam crown.
Top seed Azarenka has endured a turbulent leadup to the final, fending off accusations of gamesmanship in her 6-1 6-4 semi-final win over Sloane Stephens in which she took a near-10 minute medical timeout after blowing five match points.
Belarus's first grand slam singles champion denied the charge, however, saying she needed treatment for a rib injury that was affecting her breathing during the tense phase of the match.
Li has enjoyed a far smoother lead-in and will enter Rod Laver Arena brimful of confidence after demolishing Maria Sharapova 6-2 6-2 in their last-four clash.
Defeat for Azarenka would mean surrendering her world number one ranking to Serena Williams, while victory for Li would make the Chinese the oldest woman to win the singles trophy at Melbourne Park.
(Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)
- Chong Wei urges team-mates to bounce back from shock defeat to Taiwan
- Koo-Tan’s stunning loss rocks Malaysian camp
- Kien Keat-Boon Heong may not play in Group C tie against Germany
- Danial shatters 100m mark as four records fall on opening day
- Sindhu shines for India after spectacular performance
- Dani reigns in Le Mans
- Wee Wern relishes playing at unique venue ... a football stadium
- Kjaersfeldt ready to continue strong Danish tradition
- KLHC to the fore again
- Azlan and Zamri do Malaysia proud in ARRC race at Sentul
- ‘Comeback king’ Timothy lands his second title
- Golf: Johnson triumphs by one stroke at Mobile Bay LPGA
- Results worldwide
- Bradley clings to lead in Texas with surging Korean one stroke adrift
- Classy Williams sweeps Azarenka aside in final
- Kien Keat-Boon Heong may not play in Group C tie against Germany
- Kjaersfeldt ready to continue strong Danish tradition
- Broad salutes Anderson as England hammer Kiwis
- Aussie Griffin an easy winner at fog-bound Korean Open
- Sarawakian Daniel makes a winning return from injury
RSS
