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Tennis: Azarenka seeks recovery from rough ride

February 10, 2013 12:15
World number one Victoria Azarenka's tennis-playing stock has never been higher, but further repairs to her image may be appropriate during her title defence at the Qatar Open, which has nine of the world's top ten, starting Monday. By winning her second Grand Slam title in Melbourne last month, Azarenka displayed a new resilience and clung on to the world number one ranking ahead of Serena Williams. It evidenced a capacity for focus in the 23-year-old which is significantly improved since her younger days when spectacular emotional explosions happened all too often.

WRAPUP 1-Tennis-Azarenka keeps her eye on the prize to retain title

January 26, 2013 11:45
By Nick Mulvenney MELBOURNE, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Victoria Azarenka kept her eye firmly on the prize despite a host of distractions to rally from a set down and retain her title with victory over Li Na in a dramatic Australian Open final on Saturday. The Belarussian had to block out an often blatantly hostile crowd, sit through two lengthy timeouts for Li's injuries and bide her time as a firework display lit up Melbourne's skyline before she finally extinguished her Chinese rival's hopes with a 4-6 6-4 6-3 victory.

Tennis-Emotional Azarenka emerges a champion again

January 26, 2013 10:15
By Simon Cambers MELBOURNE, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Victoria Azarenka took everything the Australian Open could throw at her and emerged a champion. The Belarussian won her second successive title at Melbourne Park on Saturday with a 4-6 6-4 6-3 victory over China's Li Na, bursting into tears as the emotion and stress of a fortnight came pouring out.

UPDATE 2-Tennis-Azarenka retains Australian Open title

January 26, 2013 08:45
* Li Na suffers two ankle injuries * Azarenka overcomes nerves to seal second grand-slam title (Adds quotes) By Greg Stutchbury MELBOURNE, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Victoria Azarenka retained her Australian Open title on Saturday with a tense 4-6 6-4 6-3 victory over China's Li Na, who suffered a sickening ankle injury in the second set and hit her head in the third when she twisted the joint for a second time.

UPDATE 1-Tennis-Azarenka retains Australian Open title

January 26, 2013 08:15
* Li Na suffers two ankle injuries * Azarenka overcomes nerves to seal second grand-slam title (Adds details and byline) By Greg Stutchbury MELBOURNE, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Victoria Azarenka retained her Australian Open title on Saturday with a tense 4-6 6-4 6-3 victory over China's Li Na, who suffered a sickening ankle injury in the second set and hit her head in the third when she twisted the joint for a second time.

Tennis-Azarenka retains Australian Open title with nervy win

January 26, 2013 07:45
MELBOURNE, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Victoria Azarenka retained her Australian Open title with a tense 4-6 6-4 6-3 victory over China's Li Na, who suffered a sickening ankle injury in the second set and hit her head in the third when she twisted the joint for a second time. Li had dominated the first set on Saturday but Azarenka raced out to a 3-1 lead in the second before Li slipped and twisted her left ankle. She had it strapped but had problems pivoting and Azarenka won the set 6-4.

UPDATE 1-Tennis-Azarenka levels Australian Open final

January 26, 2013 07:00
* Azarenka levels match at one set all * Chinese suffers ankle injury in second set (updates after second set) MELBOURNE, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Victoria Azarenka levelled the Australian Open final against China's Li Na at one set all after she took advantage of a painful-looking ankle injury to the Chinese to take the second set 6-4.

Tennis-Azarenka eyes second straight Australian Open crown

January 25, 2013 13:15
By Ian Ransom MELBOURNE, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Defending champion Victoria Azarenka will bid for back-to-back titles at Melbourne Park on Saturday when she takes on China's late-blooming Li Na in the final of the Australian Open. The 23-year-old Belarusian holds a 5-4 career record against former French Open champion Li, including the last four of their encounters.

PREVIEW-Tennis-Azarenka faces headwinds in back-to-back bid

January 25, 2013 05:30
By Ian Ransom MELBOURNE, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Accused of gamesmanship and dogged by injury, Victoria Azarenka's bid for successive Australian Open titles on Saturday will pit her against an opponent in the form of her life and a centre-court crowd wary of any hint of bad sportsmanship. The Belarusian will take on sixth seed Li Na, who has not dropped a set all tournament and boosted her sky-high confidence further by demolishing last year's finalist Maria Sharapova 6-2 6-2 in the semi-finals.

WRAPUP 1-Tennis-Djokovic dominates after Azarenka controversy

January 24, 2013 08:30
* Djokovic thrashes Ferrer to go into final * Azarenka caught in controversy over timeout * Li reaches her second Australian final By Nick Mulvenney MELBOURNE, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic installed himself as red-hot favourite for a third straight Australian Open title with a semi-final demolition of David Ferrer on Thursday after Victoria Azarenka had controversially set up a final against Li Na.
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