Serena on a roll, Li stays alive
Source: Agencies |
October 27, 2012, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
SERENA Williams extended her dominance over the top-ranked player in the world on Thursday, defeating Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 6-4 at the WTA Championships in Istanbul, Turkey.
The American now has an 11-1 career record over Azarenka, and has won the last nine matches between the two.
"Maybe I'm doing the right things at the right time," said Williams, who also beat Azarenka to win the US Open title before taking six weeks off.
Williams' win also prevented Azarenka from making sure early she would finish the year as No. 1, although the player from Belarus can secure that position with another round-robin victory in the tournament.
Williams, who is projected to finish the year at No. 3 no matter what, got her third win in three matches at the event when Azarenka served a double-fault. Azarenka also lost the first set on a double-fault and finished with nine. Azarenka squandered a 3-0 lead in the second set as Williams won the next four games to battle back.
"I had a lot of opportunities and I didn't use them. I couldn't keep up," Azarenka said. "It's one of those days, I am a little sad because I broke her a lot and I had a lot of chances."
China's Li Na beat Angelique Kerber of Germany 6-4, 6-3 in another Red Group match to retain a slim chance of advancing.
Italy's Sara Errani beat Samantha Stosur 6-3, 2-6, 6-0 in the White Group. Australian Stosur was an alternate and replaced Czech defending champion Petra Kvitova, who withdrew after one match because of illness.
Eighth-ranked Li's first win in two round-robin matches means she can still reach the semifinals, depending on other results in her Red Group.
The fifth-ranked Kerber, making her first appearance in the season finale, bowed out losing all three of her matches.
The American now has an 11-1 career record over Azarenka, and has won the last nine matches between the two.
"Maybe I'm doing the right things at the right time," said Williams, who also beat Azarenka to win the US Open title before taking six weeks off.
Williams' win also prevented Azarenka from making sure early she would finish the year as No. 1, although the player from Belarus can secure that position with another round-robin victory in the tournament.
Williams, who is projected to finish the year at No. 3 no matter what, got her third win in three matches at the event when Azarenka served a double-fault. Azarenka also lost the first set on a double-fault and finished with nine. Azarenka squandered a 3-0 lead in the second set as Williams won the next four games to battle back.
"I had a lot of opportunities and I didn't use them. I couldn't keep up," Azarenka said. "It's one of those days, I am a little sad because I broke her a lot and I had a lot of chances."
China's Li Na beat Angelique Kerber of Germany 6-4, 6-3 in another Red Group match to retain a slim chance of advancing.
Italy's Sara Errani beat Samantha Stosur 6-3, 2-6, 6-0 in the White Group. Australian Stosur was an alternate and replaced Czech defending champion Petra Kvitova, who withdrew after one match because of illness.
Eighth-ranked Li's first win in two round-robin matches means she can still reach the semifinals, depending on other results in her Red Group.
The fifth-ranked Kerber, making her first appearance in the season finale, bowed out losing all three of her matches.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
