Victoria Azarenka retained her Australian Open title yesterday with a tense 4-6 6-4 6-3 victory over China’s Li Na, who suffered a sickening ankle injury in the second set and hit her head in the third when she twisted the joint for a second time.
Li Na dominated the first set but Azarenka raced out to a 3-1 lead in the second before Li slipped and twisted her left ankle. She had it strapped but had problems pivoting and Azarenka won the set 6-4.
The Chinese sixth seed, who won the French Open title in 2011, took a 2-1 lead in the decider before an Australia Day fireworks display delayed play for some 10 minutes. She immediately went over on her ankle again when they returned and hit her head.
A smiling Li returned to court but Azarenka managed to break in the fifth game, then hold serve to jump to a 4-2 lead and she sealed the title, which ensured she retained the world number one ranking, when she broke Li in the ninth game.
Azarenka dropped her racket to the ground and, after shaking hands with Li and the umpire Alison Lang, went tearfully to her players’ box where she was embraced by her support staff and friends who included American musician Redfoo.
“I think there was... everything. Emotion, relief, joy. You never know how you’re going to react,” she told the host broadcaster Channel Seven.
“It comes from the bottom of the heart.
“It has been a really tough couple of weeks. It has been emotional,” she added of the criticism she was subjected to after she took an injury time out in her semi-final against Sloane Stephens.
“Unfortunately you have to go through rough patches to achieve great things that is why this makes it so special for me to go through that.
“And fortunately I’m able to kiss that beautiful trophy.”
Perhaps weighed down by expectation from the most populous nation in the world and with an estimated 100 million watching on TV in China, Li had a shaky start, serving a double fault on the first point and having her serve broken.
Later, both players had problems settling again after the interruptions to the third set but Azarenka achieved the crucial break and was able to hold things together long enough to earn her second grand-slam title when a Li forehand sailed long over the baseline.
“I have to congratulate Victoria, a fantastic result in two years,” Li said before she thanked her coaching team.
“Thanks to the team, two weeks ago I really had to say I hate my team because they pushed me a lot.
“But I think it’s not bad, so I should shut up and continue. So, I know I’m not young, I still have to say I’m looking forward to next year.”
Last ten winners
2012 Victoria Azarenka, 2011 Kim Clijsters, 2010 Serena Williams, 2009 Serena Williams, 2008 Maria Sharapova, 2007 Serena Williams, 2006 Amelie Mauresmo, 2005 Serena Williams, 2004 Justine Henin, 2003 Serena Williams.
Men’s doubles final
Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan bt Robin Haase/Igor Sijsling 6-3, 6-4.