Number-one ranked and defending champion Victoria Azarenka beat sixth-seeded Li Na (as well as a partisan crowd) 4–6, 6–4, 6–3 Saturday in Melbourne to win her second straight title there and hold off Serena Williams as the top-ranked women’s player.
The match lasted more than two-and-a-half hours and featured 16 breaks of serve as well as three breaks in play—two for injury and another for the fireworks for Australian Day.
After crowd-favorite Li Na took the first set, she rolled her left ankle in the second set and took a timeout to have it taped. Early in the third set, the game was paused for the aforementioned fireworks. During the first point after play was resumed, Li Na rolled her ankle again and fell to the floor, hitting her head hard on the surface. After being checked for a concussion, play was resumed.
Unfazed by the stoppages and the crowd’s love for Li Na though was Azarenka who stayed loose during the stoppages and was at her best in the match’s final set. The 23-year-old now has won two majors—both at Melbourne.
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