Gutsy: Azarenka came back from a set down and sealed the win on her first match point in two hours 40 minutes to clinch her second Grand Slam title. PHOTO: AFP
Victoria Azarenka won an incident-packed final against an injury-hit Li Na to successfully defend her Australian Open title and retain the world number one ranking yesterday.
After a scrappy match marked by boos for Azarenka, a break for Australia Day fireworks and two painful falls for China’s Li, the Belarusian top seed dissolved in tears when she sealed the 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 win.
Li required two medical timeouts, when she twice twisted her left ankle and also banged her head on the court, in a match also interrupted for nine minutes at a crucial stage by the fireworks.
Azarenka also overcame a pro-Li crowd that was clearly unimpressed by her controversial medical timeout in the semi-finals, which she took after blowing five match points.
“It’s been a real long two weeks,” said Azarenka. “I will always keep very special memories of this court. It will be in my heart forever. The last thing I want to say is, happy Australia Day everybody.”
Meanwhile Li will count herself desperately unlucky after she twisted her ankle in the second set, and then went over heavily on it again after the fireworks, banging her head and appearing dazed before continuing.
“Congratulations to Victoria,” said Li, who had tears in her eyes after the match. “Fantastic result here for two years, so well done.”
Djokovic, Murray face off in final today
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic will chase a hat-trick of Australian Open titles in today’s final against his US Open conqueror Andy Murray.
World number one Djokovic thrives on the Melbourne hardcourt surface where he has won three of his five Grand Slams, and is the hot favourite after his brutal semi-final demolition of fourth seed David Ferrer.
“It’s just the conditions in general that I like, especially on Rod Laver Arena. It’s my most successful Grand Slam,” said Djokovic.
“Being in a third consecutive final is an incredible feeling and achievement, I’m so very proud of it.
“I was pushed to the limit in the fourth round and I’ve had some really physically tough matches in this tournament, and I’m glad that I got through it. Right now I feel great on the court.”
Djokovic leads Murray 10-7, with two of the wins at the Australian Open, including a straight-sets win in the 2011 final.
Significantly, Murray vanquished his Grand Slam nemesis Roger Federer for the first time at a major in a classic four-hour, five-set semi to book his place in the decider.
“I think I started to play better tennis and played my optimum level more in the big matches over the last year or so, which hadn’t always been the case,” said the Scot.
“I think that’s what’s changed for me. I mean, two years ago he (Djokovic) didn’t lose a match for the first six months.”
Tennis greats Roger Federer and Andre Agassi both believe Djokovic will come through in the final.
“Obviously Novak goes in as the favourite, I would think, even though Andy beat him at the US Open,” said Federer. “I give a slight edge to Novak just because of the last couple of days.”
Agassi, who won four of his eight Slam titles in Australia, also fancies the Serbian top seed.
“I certainly would favour at this stage, given the quality of play and the second life that Djokovic has after that Wawrinka match, I would give him the edge,” Agassi said.
In Murray’s favour in is that in four of the last five years, the man who played his semi-final second has gone on to win the final.
Novak Djokovic
“It’s just the conditions in general that I like, especially on Rod Laver Arena. It’s my most successful Grand Slam. Being in a third consecutive final is an incredible feeling and achievement, I’m so very proud of it.”
Roger Federer
“Obviously Novak goes in as the favourite to win the Australian Open title, I would think, even though Andy beat him at the US Open. I give a slight edge to Novak just because of the last couple of days he has had.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 27th, 2013.
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