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 over the world game, 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.
And, while she might not know where all 57 of her trophies are – running out of space in her shared house with equally successful sister, Venus – the 32-year-old is as determined as ever to stand next to the winner’s trophy.
“Honestly, I don’t know where they all are … I’m not the kind of girl that flaunts her trophies,” Serena said.
“Seeing someone on the other end that does have a lot of intensity, I don’t want my level to drop. For me, it was just kind of important to stay not only focused but to stay pumped as well.”
“There is a title on the line. I wanted to be holding the winner’s trophy at the end the of the day.”
Azarenka doesn’t like the word confidence, but she admits her form in the second set is the form she needs to dethrone Williams.
“I can’t say I’m satisfied today, but I want to take the positive,” she said.
“It’s never easy. It’s not a secret, but I think I was able to break her today.”
“It was just a matter of those really key moments to go for it. I felt like in the second set I was going for it more. I just mis-hit a little bit.”
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.
“One of my goals is to stay relaxed, but I don’t want to fall into the trap of not having the intensity. So I wanted to make sure I had the intensity,” Williams said.
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.
But for Azarenka, who is defending consecutive titles in Melbourne, a rematch of tonight’s final is exactly the match she’s hoping for.
“I never expect anything, but I hope so,” she said.
With consecutive wins over top rivals Maria Sharapova and Azarenka, Williams knows what she needs to do in Melbourne, but admits there are no carry-over points when the stage is set.
“Obviously I’ll have a little confidence. But at the same time, we both start at zero‑zero. We both have to kind of get there,” Williams said.
“I know now what I need to do for Melbourne. I look forward to it.”
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.