Victoria Azarenka secures Miami-Indian Wells double

Victoria Azarenka continued her excellent start to 2016 as she collected her third title of the season with a straight sets victory over Svetlana Kuznetsova in the final of the Miami Open.

The No 13 seed from Belarus was always in charge as she swept to a 6-3 6-2 triumph after just 77 minutes in the fierce 88 degree heat.

In a contest dominated by return of serve, Kuznetsova was broken seven times in just nine games, and found herself 1-4 down in each set.

Azarenka, who has now won 22 of her 23 matches this year, raced through the tournament without dropping a set in six outings.

The 26-year-old had arrived in Florida on the back of her triumph at Indian Wells in California where she beat world No 1 Serena Williams in the final.

And by securing her third Miami crown - and first since 2011 - she joins Steffi Graf and Kim Clijsters as the only other players to win the prestigious American hard court double in the same year.

A delighted champion said: "I have so many great memories here. It's always a pleasure to come here. Hot tennis is amazing this month."

ATP Masters Tennis

When the latest rankings are published on Monday, she will move back into the world's top five for the first time in over two years.

Kuznetsova, 30, the 2006 Miami champion and No 15 seed, will jump from 19th to 13th in the same list but on Saturday was never able to put her opponent under enough pressure.