Victoria Azarenka proved too strong for Maria Sharapova in the final of the Bank Of The West Classic in California on Sunday.
Belarusian too hot in Stanford
Victoria Azarenka proved too strong for Maria Sharapova in the final of the Bank Of The West Classic in California on Sunday.
The eighth seed from Belarus overwhelmed her Russian opponent 6-4 6-1 to win her first WTA Tour title of the season.
A day after her 21st birthday, Azarenka broke Sharapova three times in the first set and then took advantage of 16 unforced errors in the second by the Russian to win the 700,000-dollar hardcourt event.
"I haven't lost a match yet since I turned 21," Azarenka said after the match. "It's great. I can have cake now."
Azarenka, who is likely to climb six spots to No.12 in the world rankings after her win, improved to 19-5 on hardcourts this season, the surface where she has won her four career WTA titles and where she will play at the US Open later this month.
Revenge
"It just brings me so much confidence and passion to go, especially before the US Open," Azarenka added. "I'm glad I'm picking up my form and gaining so much confidence."
Sharapova, who had won 17 of her last 20 matches prior to the final, missed the chance to claim her third title of the year and jump above her 15th-place ranking.
"Congratulations to 'Nika (Azarenka) on great play and a great week," Sharapova said. "I'm sure we will be playing many more times so I will get my revenge."
Azarenka, now 2-2 against Sharapova, needed four set points before finally taking the first set when the Russian sent a backhand wide. Azarenka twice rallied from 0-30 to hold serve, denying Sharapova a third break to level.
"Maria is a great player. I had to dig my way in," Azarenka said. "I was running a lot. It was tough to hold my serve. I had to play really well. I'm glad I kept fighting. Point by point it worked for me."
Azarenka broke Sharapova three times in the second set and took the title to love when Sharapova netted a forehand.
