| It's mine again - Vika and her trophy |
Australian Open 2013 Day 13 - Azarenka battles past Li
In one of the most eventful Women's finals of recent years Victoria Azarenka displayed her customary fighting spirit to battle past Li Na 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 to defend her title and in the process retain her No.1 ranking.
The Belarusian was pushed all the way by the Chinese No.1 who dominated the early stages of the match but was then cruelly affected by an ankle injury as she twice fell to the court, knocking her head the second time.
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| Li dominated the early stages of the final |
Despite being broken in a nervy opening game, Li won five of the next six games to lead 5-2 in the opener.
Just as she did against Sharapova in the semi-finals her hard hitting power game was giving Azarenka all sorts of problems.
Li was reeling off winners from both flanks and at that stage looked on course to win her second major crown.
However the defending champion was not overawed and got her metronomic baseline consistency going to break back. Serving to stay in the opening set at 4-5 Azarenka fended off three set points before a double fault on the fourth.
| Azarenka fought back strongly |
The top seed capitalised on Li's level dropping to race into a 3-0 double break lead in the second. But the former French Open winner struck back with a forehand winner in the fourth game.
Serving at 1-3 Li twisted her left ankle and the trainer came on and the injury was heavily strapped.
Upon the resumption Li held impressively for 2-3 and built three break points. Crucially on the third Li netted a crosscourt backhand after opening up the court perfectly.
Azarenka took full advantage of the reprieve and held for 4-2 with a forehand winner. Li fended off two break points to get to 3-4 and then broke the top seed to level at 4-all and come within two games of the title.
The sixth seed netted a smash on the first point of the ninth game and Azarenka secured another break. The Belarusian held serve quickly to level the match.
The World No.1 took advantage of a Li lapse in form to break in double quick time to start the decider. But the Chinese 30 year-old rediscovered her form to break back in the second game and hold to lead 2-1 before a 10 minute break for the Australia Day fireworks.
| Li's second fall was particularly painful |
On the first point of the resumption Li again went over heavily on her left ankle knocking her head on the court in the process.
After treatment from the Doctor and trainer the 2011 finalist was able to continue but had clearly been affected by the ankle injury.
Azarenka broke in the fifth game and held comfortably to open a 4-2 lead.
Li continued to fight admirably and held with a forehand winner in the seventh game. At this stage she had no option other than to go for winners.
In a crucial eighth game Azarenka netted a forehand off a Li moonball and Li held a break back point. She went for a big forehand return but saw it go over the baseline. Azarenka held on for 5-3 - the same lead she held in last year's US Open final which ended in defeat.
A huge backhand in the ninth game gave Li a point for 4-5. But two backhand errors gave Azarenka a championship point and one final backhand long gave the Belarusian the match after two hours and forty minutes.
| Azarenka was emotional after victory |
Unlike her demolition of Sharapova twelve months ago Azarenka was pushed to the limit to retain her title and it showed as she broke into tears soon after the moment of victory.
Li showed that her power game is match for anyone and at that she is very close to getting her hands on a second major trophy.
She will rise back into the top five next week and will be looking to go even higher. I predicted Li to reach the final and think she is going to have a big year in 2013.
Defeat in the final for Azarenka would have handed Serena Williams the No.1 ranking.
The Belarusian will be under pressure for the next couple of months with the Doha and Indian Wells titles to defend but her second Grand Slam title will send the 23 year-old into the rest of the season with renewed confidence.
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