WTA Weekend Roundup: Stephens Wins Auckland, Azarenka Storms to Brisbane Title
While most of the country was enjoying the opening weekend of the NFL playoffs, there was some top tennis being played on the other side of the world as the opening tournaments of the 2016 season came to a close.
Stephens Rolls to Auckland Crown
American Sloane Stephens had to win two matches over the weekend on Saturday to claim the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, and did just that, disposing of third-seeded Dane Caroline Wozniacki 6-2, 7-6(3) before beating Germany’s Julia Goerges 7-5, 6-2 to win the title.
Stephens led Wozniacki 5-2 in the opening set before rain suspended their semifinal, and it was picked up the following day, where Stephens closed out the former world number one in straight sets.
And in the final, she won nine of 11 games after falling behind 4-5 in the first set against Goerges, and went on to defeat Goerges in straight sets.
“You can never prepare for playing a set and then rain, then finishing the match the next morning and coming back again in the afternoon,” said Stephens. “You just have to keep going and do your best. Julia had been playing some really great tennis all week, but I knew if I just kept playing solid I could do it. I was pleased the way I was able to pull myself together and come back and play well. Just kind of going with the flow—that was pretty much it.”
Azarenka Beats Kerber for Brisbane Title
Victoria Azarenka concluded her blistering run in Brisbane with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Germany’s Angelique Kerber to capture the Brisbane International championship.
The win gave Azarenka her 18th career WTA title, and her first in almost two and a half years.
“Every time I play in front of this crowd I couldn’t be happier,” said Azarenka. “My dreams come true whenever I step on the court, and I want to thank you all for showing up, motivating us so much and inspiring us so much.”
The championship victory over Kerber wrapped up a masterful tournament from Azarenka. Thanks to a draw that opened up when top seeds Simona Halep and Maria Sharapova withdrew, the Belarusian lost just 17 games in her five matches on her way to the title.
Azarenka, a two-time Australian Open champion, has now won 35 of her last 39 matches in Australia.
Radwanska Dominates in Shenzhen
Agnieszka Radwanska defeated American Alison Riske 6-3, 6-2 win the Shenzhen Open title and, in the process, moved up past Maria Sharapova to number four in the world rankings.
“I think Alison was really playing solid tennis today. She has a very powerful game from the baseline—I was really struggling from the baseline. I was really in a lot of trouble there,” said Radwanska. “But my serve really helped me today. Also in the deciding points I was a little bit better, and I think that’s why the score was the way it was—it made it look easier than the actual match was.”
Radwanska dominated the draw throughout the tournament, dropping a total of 29 games in her five straight-set victories.
The Pole has played remarkably well since the U.S. Open, winning 22 of her last 26 matches dating back to Queens and now has 18 career titles.
She was scheduled to play in Sydney this week, but has since withdrawn, and will next play in the year’s first major at the Australian Open.
