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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You Cannot Be Serious... Tennis Umpires

Two professional tennis umpires have been banned and four more are under investigation for fixing games to assist betting syndicates, it has emerged.

Kazakhstan's Kirill Parfenov was banned for life last February for contacting another official on Facebook in an attempt to manipulate the scoring of matches.

And Croatian Denis Pitner was suspended for 12 months after sending information about a player to a coach during a tournament and logging onto a betting account from which wagers were placed on games.

The revelations come as professional tennis faces increasing scrutiny over allegations of corruption within its highest levels.

It is already reeling from reports last month that 16 players who have been ranked in the top 50 had been repeatedly flagged to the Tennis Integrity Unit over concerns they had thrown matches.

Tennis authorities rejected accusations that evidence of match-fixing had been suppressed or had not been properly investigated over the past decade.

But the spectre of match umpires possibly colluding with betting syndicates by manipulating live scoring data at low-ranking events is a further blow to the sport's image.

In 2014 French tennis official Morgan Lamri was banned for multiple breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Programme. 

Explaining why the latest suspensions had only just been disclosed, The International Tennis Federation (ITF) said its Code of Conduct for Officials did not require it to name those sanctioned until it tweaked the code at the start of the year.

The ITF would not comment on reports that said umpires from Kazakhstan, Turkey and Ukraine were among those being investigated.

However, it did address suggestions that a five-year deal worth a reported $70 million with data company Sportradar had inadvertently exposed tennis to corruption.

Sportradar passes on scoring data from umpires, even at bottom rung Futures circuit tournaments, to 'in-play' betting websites around the world.

By deliberately delaying inputting the outcome of a point, umpires can help court-side gamblers to place bets knowing what was going to happen next.

'The ITF's data contract with Sportradar for an official data feed provides regulation and control where previously there was none,' a statement said.

'Our agreement with Sportradar, like those in place with ATP and WTA, by creating official, accurate and immediate data, acts as a deterrent to efforts by anyone trying to conduct illegal sports betting and/or unauthorised use of data for non-legal purposes.

'Sportradar are excellent partners and share with the ITF the goal of ensuring the integrity of our sport.'

In the wake of revelations some 16 players in the top 50 were suspected of match fixing, Roger Federer (left) said they should be named, while Novak Djokovic (right) revealed he had once rejected an offer to throw a match for money

Tennis is one of the most gambled on sports in the world, with bookmakers actively taking bets mid-match.

Like cricket, match-fixing does not necessarily mean throwing a match, but could involve taking money just to double fault or lost a set.

Last month the sport was rocked by reports 16 players who have ranked in the top 50 are among those to be suspected of match fixing.

Incredibly, eight of those 16, including one Grand Slam winner, were alleged to have been playing at the Australian Open.

In the wake of the accusations, tennis legend John McEnroe admitted many had heard 'stories about this going on at the low levels', but added that 'no one knew it was happening at the Grand Slams'.

Many were also shocked to learn that some of the sport's top players had been approached and offered big money to throw matches.

Djokovic confirmed last month he was offered money to intentionally throw a match. The 10-time Grand Slam champion said that he was not directly approached but members of his support team were offered the money in Russia in 2007, an offer the player said was immediately rejected.

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Keothavong Retires from Tennis

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Former British number one Anne Keothavong has retired from tennis to pursue a career in broadcasting.

The 29-year-old reached seven WTA semi-finals and, in 2009, became the first British woman in 16 years to be ranked inside the world's top 50.

Keothavong will join BT Sport's tennis coverage team later this year.

"I think I am leaving tennis in excellent shape with both Laura Robson and Heather Watson leading the way for Britain in the women's game," she said.

Keothavong won a total of 20 singles titles on the International Tennis Federation circuit, the level below the top-tier WTA tour, and eight ITF doubles titles, reaching a career-high singles ranking of 48 in the world in early 2009.

In Grand Slams her high point was reaching the third round of the US Open in 2008, while at Tour level she reached the last four in 2009 in Warsaw, which was the best British result at a Premier level clay-court event since Jo Durie was a semi-finalist at the 1983 French Open.

She was ranked at 285th in the world before her retirement ,

Keothavong said: "I have given my decision a lot of thought and I believe this is the right time to move on to the next stage of my career.

Keothavong made 13 consecutive main draw appearances at Wimbledon despite her career being threatened by serious injuries to each knee.

LTA chief executive, Roger Draper, said: "Anne has been a true ambassador for British tennis, both on and off the court during her entire career.

"Anne's courage was evident in coming back from not one, but two challenging knee surgeries. A journey that began on the park courts of Hackney led to her being an inspirational role model for young girls everywhere, as well as to our current generation of players. We wish her well in the next chapter of her life."

Britain's Federation Cup captain Judy Murray added: "It's been a real pleasure for me to work with Anne as part of the Fed Cup team. You couldn't ask for a better, more committed team member - a great professional who represented her country with huge pride and passion

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