Azarenka Wins Miami Open

Azarenka Wins Miami Open - Getty Images

Victoria Azarenka kept up her impressive year to date by beating Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-3 6-2 to win the Miami Open on Saturday.

Azarenka punished her Russian opponent’s weak serve to wrap up the final in 80 minutes, in relentless humidity under a searing sun in the early afternoon encounter on the Key Biscayne hard court.

The 13th seed finished off Kuznetsova with a powerful backhand ground stroke for the 20th title of her career, and her third of the year, after winning previously in Indian Wells and Brisbane.

It is the third Miami title for the 26-year-old from Belarus and the first time she has won the same tournament more than twice. She is also the first woman to win the Indian Wells and Miami tournaments back-to-back since Kim Clijsters in 2005.

“This just gives me even more inspiration and motivation to keep working harder,” Azarenka said in a courtside interview.

“I’m very happy that all the work that I’ve been putting in is paying off. It’s such a great opportunity to play the whole month so consistent.“

Azarenka seems to be returning to the form that took her to the top of the world rankings four years ago, before she was sidetracked by injury and personal problems.

She beat Serena Williams in the final at Indian Wells two weeks ago, and on Saturday never gave Kuznetsova a chance.

Azarenka pounced on Kuznetsova’s second serve, breaking the Russian five times in the first set alone.

Johanna Konta beaten by Victoria Azarenka in Miami Open

The world No8 also had her serving problems, however. She was broken three times in the first set but settled down in the second to hold throughout.

“It was pretty tough conditions with being so hot,” she said.

“It didn’t seem too windy but it was really difficult to serve because the ball was flying too much. I really took my opportunities, stepped into the net a lot.“

A long week perhaps caught up with Kuznetsova in the final, after she battled through three sets in four of the five matches she won to get to the final, including her fourth-round victory over world No1 Serena Williams.

Kuznetsova was outclassed by Azarenka, whose sights will soon turn to the clay court season and the French Open.

“I think my game suits pretty well for the clay court season,” said Azarenka

“I’ve been in the semis of the French Open. I’m ready to take that second step.”

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Djokovic Wins Fourth Miami Open

Novak Djokovic Miami Open - Getty Images

Novak Djokovic, continued his domination of men’s tennis with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Japan’s Kei Nishikori in the final of the Miami Open in Florida on Sunday.

Djokovic dropped serve in the first game but it was pretty much one-way traffic after that as he outclassed the No6 seed in all facets of the game on the hardcourt at Key Biscayne.

The 28-year-old Serb took 85 minutes to join the American Andre Agassi as a six-times Miami Open winner, for his 63rd career title. He claimed $1,028,300, becoming the sport’s all-time leading money-winner.

It is his fourth consecutive championship, and his 28th overall, in the Masters 1000, a series of nine tournaments considered the most prestigious other than the four grand slams. It is also Djokovic’s fourth title of 2016, following victories at the Australian Open, Qatar and Indian Wells.

His only blemish on an otherwise perfect record this year came in Dubai in February, when he retired during a quarter-final with an eye infection.

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Views from the Top - Chris Evert

"When I play, I'm boiling inside. I just try not to show it because it's a lack of composure, and if you give in to your emotions after one loss, you're liable to have three or four in a row."

Chrissie Evert

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Serena Ends Year No.1

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Serena Williams will end the year as the number one female player in the world after a phenomenal campaign which saw the American win two Grand Slams.

The 32-year-old has lost just four matches this year, winning nine titles, including the French and US Open.

It is the third time she has topped the rankings at the end of a calendar year.

Williams became the oldest player to hold the number one positionwhen, aged 31, the 17-time Grand Slam winner replaced Victoria Azarenka in February.

"Serena has proven time and time again throughout her career that she is an incredible champion, both on and off the court," said Women's Tennis Association (WTA) chairman and chief executive Stacey Allaster.

"This season she continues to rewrite the record books, proving she is one of the sport's greatest athletes of all time."

Williams will be presented with her trophy during the season-ending WTA Championships in Istanbul next month.

She will be joined by China's Li Na, who became the fifth player to qualify for the event, following in the footsteps of Williams, Azarenka, Maria Sharapova and Agnieszka Radwanska.

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Serena Wins Fifth US Open

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Serena Williams would have felt disappointed with her season had she not seen off Victoria Azarenka to win the US Open for a fifth time.

At 31, the American is more dominant than she has ever been, and her 7-5 6-7 (6/8) 6-1 victory over Azarenka in New York gave her a ninth title of the year.

She has lost only four matches all season, but two of those have come in grand slams, where traditionally she has been at her strongest.

When Azarenka recovered from 4-1 down to take the second set with Williams having twice served for the match, it seemed the world number one may have to contemplate more slam disappointment.

But Williams responded superbly and won the third set easily to add the US Open to the French Open title she clinched in June.

She said: "I felt almost disappointed with my year, to be honest. I felt like, yeah, I won the French Open, but I wasn't happy with my performances in the other two slams, and not even making it to the quarter-finals of one.

"So I definitely feel a lot better with at least a second grand slam under my belt this year."

Williams' victory gave her a 17th grand slam singles title, moving her level with Roger Federer and only one behind both Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova.

"It's an honour to be even with Roger," said Williams. "He's been such a great champion throughout the years, and he's just an unbelievable competitor and he's still playing, and he can probably still win more.

"He's just been so incredibly consistent, so we have had really different careers.

"Then to be compared with Chrissy and Martina - I can't necessarily compare myself to them, because numbers-wise they're still greater."

There were high hopes the match would be as dramatic as last year's final between the pair, which Williams won after Azarenka had served for the title, and it did not disappoint.

Williams struggled with the wind in the first set especially, casting panicked glances at her box and appearing distracted by her billowing dress and hair.

But Azarenka could not capitalise, and it looked like Williams would cruise to victory when she moved 4-1 ahead with two breaks of serve in the second set.

Azarenka is as big a fighter as Williams, though, and she hung on grimly and then seized her chance when the American got tight.

Twice Williams served for the match and twice Azarenka broke back, and the Belarusian went on to take the tie-break on her third opportunity.

It seemed like it would be a tough set for Williams to bounce back from but the world number one refocused and pulled away to clinch victory after two hours and 45 minutes.

Williams said: "I obviously would have preferred to close it out in straight sets. But going against a great opponent like Victoria, you have to be able to realise that that can happen and you have to keep fighting for everything.

"I thought, 'I have to stay positive'. It was very easy to get down. I didn't want to get down on myself.

"I wanted to be a little strict with myself so I could play better. I wanted to do different things and try to have a better performance."

Williams admitted she did not deal with the wind as well as she might have, saying: "The wind was unbelievable. It just got worse and worse. It never let up.

"But at this point you have to be able to play under any circumstances. It wasn't very easy. I think I made a lot of errors because of that. I definitely could have moved my feet better."

Azarenka was in tears at the end but felt there was nothing more she could have done.

The world number two described the determination of both players as rising like boiling water, and she said: "It was a great match.

"There was no let down. I think in the third set the momentum changed a little bit, and I kind of felt like I lost that momentum.

"But she really made it happen. In that particular moment she was tougher. She was more consistent and she deserved to win.

"I wish I could have done something better. I felt like I had opportunities in the first set as well. But it's okay. I did everything I could.

"The game overall, there are things that could have been better. But I gave my heart. I fought as hard as I could.

"So that's what is important for me, that I lost to a great champion. But I'm still going to have my head up."

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