Serene Williams started off the New Year in impressive form as she beat Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka on her way to winning her first trophy in 2014. PHOTO: AFP
World number one Serena Williams won the season-opening Brisbane International tennis tournament when she beat second seed Victoria Azarenka on Saturday.
Serena won a close first set then edged Azarenka in the second to win a tense final 6-4, 7-5 in 98 minutes.
The defending champion just shaded Azarenka throughout, with her powerful serve proving the main difference between the world’s top two players.
Serena broke Azarenka once in the first set. Although she lost her serve twice in the second, she broke Azarenka three times to seal victory.
The win was Serena’s 14th over Azarenka in 17 meetings, and stamps her as the player to beat for the Australian Open later this month.
“I want to congratulate Azarenka for being a great player and a great champion, and just someone I enjoy playing against and seeing around,” said Serena, according to ESPN.
“Brisbane is a wonderful city, which is why I have been here for three years in a row, and I enjoy being here every day.”
Serena, who also beat world number four Maria Sharapova in the semi-finals, did not drop a set on the way to the final.
The American lost only four matches in 2011 on her way to winning 11 titles.
She regained her number one ranking eight weeks into 2013 in a year that also included a winning streak of 34 consecutive matches.
Federer survives scare to reach final
Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer survived a massive scare from Frenchman Jeremy Chardy Saturday to reach the final of the Brisbane International.
Federer was outplayed for large parts of the match but lifted when it mattered to beat the eighth seeded Chardy in three sets 6-3, 6-7 (3/7), 6-3.
The one hour, 55 minute win puts Federer into Sunday’s final against Lleyton Hewitt, who took 35 minutes longer to beat Japan’s second seeded Kei Nishikori 5-7, 6-4, 6-3.
Federer, who at 32 is the same age as Hewitt, admitted he found it difficult to like the Australian at the start of their careers but said they had both mellowed as they grew older, and now they sometimes practised together.
“We go back 17 years, our coaches back in the day were best friends,” said Federer.
“It’s amazing we have a chance to play in Australia.”
Federer and Hewitt have played 26 times in their senior careers, with Federer leading 18-8.
“It will be good (to play against him),” said Hewitt.
“You want to play against the best players, and obviously Roger and I have a good history and a lot of tough matches in the past in Slams and Davis Cups and everything.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 5th, 2014.
Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ