Sport
WTA Championships: Serena Williams defeats Victoria Azarenka – advances to semis
Serena Williams in action against Li Na. PHOTO/AP
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.
Williams improved to 11-1 overall against Azarenka, winning the last nine matches. Williams beat Azarenka in the semifinals of Wimbledon and at the London Olympics.
“Maybe I’m doing the right things at the right time,” said Williams, who also beat Azarenka to win the U.S. Open title before taking six weeks off.
Despite the loss, Azarenka can secure the No. 1 position with another victory in the round-robin tournament, which features the top eight players.
Williams, who is projected to finish the year at No. 3, won her third match at the event when Azarenka served a double-fault. Azarenka also lost the first set on a double-fault and finished with nine.
“I had a lot of opportunities and I didn’t use them. I couldn’t keep up,” Azarenka said. “It’s one of these days, I am a little said because I broke her a lot and I had a lot of chances.”
The Belarusian squandered a 3-0 lead in the second set as Williams won the next four games.
