Azarenka Defeats Sharapova for Women’s Title at Sony Ericsson Open
April 4, 2011 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Victoria Azarenka from Belarus defeated Russian Maria Sharapova, 6-1, 6-4 in the finals of the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami to take home the women’s crown. This was Azarenka’s second Sony Ericsson Open win, the last title coming in 2009. Sharapova committed 43 unforced errors, held serve only once and came up short with a late comeback bid. Azarenka, seeded eighth at the tournament, is projected to rise to number six in the WTA rankings this week, while Sharapova’s finals appearance should move her up to ninth place in the WTA rankings.
“I played real well the first set,” said Azarenka. “Maria is such a great fighter, I knew she was going to fight to the end. She came up with great tennis at the end, and I had to hang in there. That’s what paid off.”
