LADIES FINAL
It's time to see where women's tennis is these days. We have an old hand - Maria Sharapova, three-time Slam champion who has come back from a career-threatening shoulder injury to the very top of the women's game once more; and then we have the young pretender - Victoria Azarenka, 22-years-old, whose best run in an Open before now was her semi-final appearance at Wimbledon last year. The women are not only playing for the Aussie Open title but also for the number one spot, the first time since the Australian Open 2009 that the top spot has been contested at a Grand Slam event.
No pressure then.
Azarenka started her first Slam final tentatively and quickly found herself 2-0 down against the big-hitting Russian. She held her serve in game three with a monstrous forehand down the line and never really looked back. She broke the faltering Russian's serve to love in game four then played a delicious lob to hold serve and go 5-3 up. The first set was wrapped up by the Belarusian in 46 minutes to 15 and a delighted Azarenka practically skipped back to her chair.
Sharapova, with all her years of experience, knew she had to come out fighting in the second set. Serving first gave her an advantage but she couldn't hold Azarenka in check as a superb passing shot saw the 22-year-old break. Sharapova had a chance to break back immediately but didn't capitalise and from there Azarenka took total control of the match. She broke two more times and saved a break point of her own in the final game to wrap up a 6-3 6-0 drubbing of the Russian third seed. She dropped to her knees in celebration when she won and couldn't stop laughing as she rushed to her camp for hugs from trainers, coaches and friends (no family there to see her win her maiden Slam).
She said, "I have had an amazing month in Australia and it is a dream come true."
Can she now take women's tennis on and be the nest big champion - a Williams or Clijsters or Henin? Only time will tell but I think she looks a worthy lady to be at the top of the game.
I'll keep you blogged...
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