By Erik Gudris | Saturday, January 9, 2016
Victoria Azarenka won her first title since 2013 by winning Brisbane over Angelique Kerber in straight sets.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Victoria Azarenka capped off an impressive start to 2016 by claiming her first title in nearly three years at the Brisbane International. To do so, she had to withstand the lefty power of No. 4 seed Angelique Kerber.
ATP: Federer Returns to Brisbane Final
At the start of the match, both women looked ready to duel in a tight content. With each player matching the other for both depth and power from the baseline, it made for several inspiring rallies often finished off by one, or the other, with a sweeping backhand winner.
Each traded back-to-back service breaks midway through the first set, but it was Azarenka who began to dictate the tone of the match from there. With a roundhouse forehand winner, Azarenka again claimed another break for a 4-3 lead.
Azarenka then used her improved movement to scramble out of trouble during a baseline rally. Racing to the net, Azarenka knocked off a solid volley winner to secure her lead for 5-3.
From there, Kerber imploded when serving to stay in the set. Down 0-40, the German double faulted thus handing Azarenka the set 6-3.
By this juncture, Azarenka had 14 winners to just five unforced errors. Kerber herself hit 15 winners but racked up 11 unforced errors.
Azarenka withstood early pressure from Kerber in her first service game of the second set. Saving three break points, Azarenka would hold serve for 1-0. She then forced a forehand error from Kerber in the next game to secure yet another break for 2-0.
While Kerber tried to stay level with her opponent, it often meant she tried for too much to win points more often resulting in an error than a winner.
Another errant forehand from Kerber later would help Azarenka increase her lead to 4-1. Despite Kerber’s best efforts, the night would be belong to the former two-time Australian Open winner.
Soon up 5-1 and holding several match points, Azarenka could taste victory. Azarenka struck a final stinging forehand winner to seal the convincing 6-3, 6-1 win for her first title since winning Cincinnati in 2013. It's also her 18th career WTA title.
In the final stats, Azarenka hit 23 winners and just nine unforced errors while Kerber struck 25 winners but also 27 unforced errors.
Afterwards, Azarenka talked about the importance of the title win for her.
Azarenka dropped only 17 games during her week in Brisbane and also with her title run will secure a top 16 ranking for the upcoming Australian Open.