Azarenka crowned queen

Belarus’s Victoria Azarenka swept imperiously to her first grand slam title and the world number one ranking yesterday when she demolished Maria Sharapova in the Australian Open final.

The 22-year-old, playing her first major title match, made light of the occasion and her illustrious opponent as she hammered the Russian former champion 6-3, 6-0 in just 82 minutes.

Azarenka appeared on court in a yellow hoodie and listening to her MP3 player, and after being broken in the first game she was quickly into the rhythm of a match set to both players’ notoriously loud shrieks.

After going 0-2 down in the first set, she stepped forward to claim 12 of the next 13 games against Sharapova, who was powerless to stop the onslaught despite her three major trophies, including the 2008 Melbourne title.

The third seed, who now succeeds Caroline Wozniacki as the new women’s number one, was equally cool afterwards as she lifted the Daphne Ackhurst Cup and dutifully thanked her grandmother in her acceptance speech without tears.

“I can’t wait to be back next year, I’ve had an amazing month in Australia. It’s a dream true,” said Azarenka.

Her win highlights a shake-up in women’s tennis after Wozniacki’s departure from the number one ranking and a re-shuffling of the top 10, plus defeats for 2011 champion Kim Clijsters and five-time winner Serena Williams.

In the new rankings to be released today, Czech player Petra Kvitova will be second behind Azarenka with Sharapova third and Wozniacki fourth, while China’s Li Na falls to ninth.

“As in any sport you have your good days, you have your tough days and you have days where things just don’t work out. Today Victoria was just too good,” Sharapova said.

“It all comes down to the last two athletes, winner takes it all after all the players in the draw. I’ve had great wins here and I’ve had tough losses but there’s no doubt I’ll be back.”

Doubles record

Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek denied the Bryan brothers a record 12th men’s grand slam doubles title as they beat the American top seeds in straight sets in the final.

The 7-6 (7/1), 6-2 victory was the first for India’s Paes over American twins Bob and Mike Bryan in a final after five defeats in title matches, and means he completes a career grand slam of doubles titles.

Coming into the Australian Open the Indian doubles specialist had won 47 career doubles titles with 11 different partners, including one with Stepanek, who now claims his first grand slam doubles title.

“I know what this means for him (Paes) because this title was missing from his career grand slam, and I’m happy I can be by his side,” Stepanek said.

The two danced around the court gleefully after their win, which comes on the day that Bob Bryan’s wife is expecting their first baby.

“She’s probably going to deliver tomorrow so thanks baby, thanks for holding it in for me,” he said.