La estadounidense Serena Williams ganó el torneo de Brisbane por segunda vez consecutiva y le ganó a Victoria Azarenka por 6-4, 7-5.
Serena esta gruesa y si sigue jugando así llegara a los 40 años sin problema jugando a un buen nivel como sucedió en México con el Gato Ordaz.
ASÍ SE DIJO Y EN INGLÉS
World No.1 Serena Williams has defended her Brisbane International crown, overcoming second-ranked Victoria Azarenka 6-4 7-5 with the power hitting and intensity that such a match-up promised.
Azarenka threw everything at the firing American in the second set, but Williams proved her dominance on the world stage, dictating aggression from the first point and nailing 10 aces in the match to secure her back-to-back title and stake her claim to the Melbourne stage in three weeks time.
It’s a rivalry inherent with the World No.1 and 2 rankings, but Williams and Azarenka have made it their own – a battle of young star and experienced champion marred by powerful hitting from baseline to baseline that until last year was still a case of David and Goliath.
Azarenka had only ever beaten Williams due to retirement, but in 2013 she recorded two wins over the champion and in the dawn of a new year, a more established rivalry was reignited on Pat Rafter Arena tonight.
From the first return of serve, the Williams game plan was clear: be aggressive and dictate. Throwing her body at every serve she had to hold her hand out after points as if to settle herself.
Both powerful hitters and both dynamic around the court the first set was tennis worthy of the stage, but the aggressive hitting from a determined Williams was applying the pressure on the Azarenka serve.
There was just one deuce game and one break point – a slight lapse in concentration in the critical seventh game gave Williams the sniff she needed, responding with a deep topspin return she’d perhaps saved for the moment, she drew the error to break for a 4-3 lead.
The 17-time Grand Slam champion gave nothing away, serving out the set to love with a 178 km/h ace after 37 minutes of play.
The opening exchanges of the second set were always going to be decisive for Azarenka, and when a double fault brought up 0-40 in the opening game and a forehand into the net gifted Williams the break, it seemed certain that a consecutive Brisbane title was moments away for the American.
But, holding serve with an ace and a fist pump in her next service game, the world no.2 was beginning to match the aggression being thrown at her from the other end, forcing Williams into longer rallies.
In two critical games at 2-1, in which both players traded game points, a free-swinging Azarenka managed to shift momentum, giving way to a 4-2 advantage in the set.
The infamously competitive Williams stepped up to the challenge, charging to the net and yelling into a clenched fist as she quickly levelled the score.
With the top two women in full swing and full voice, the level of tennis rose to match it, and after an endless point at 5-all gave Williams the break point, she took her chance, stepping into the court and nailing a backhand down the line.
With blistering serves, the top-ranked American served out the match with ease to win her consecutive Brisbane International and send an ominous warning for what could be her historic 18th Grand Slam title.
Kudryavtseva and Rodionova doubles champions
In the women’s doubles final, Russia’s Alla Kudryavtseva and Australia’s Anastasia Rodionova combined to defeat Kristina Mladenovic and Galina Voskoboeva 6-3 6-1.
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