This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/27/sports/tennis/azarenka-defeats-li-in-australian-open.html

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
In Rough-and-Tumble Match, Azarenka Repeats as Champion In Rough-and-Tumble Match, Azarenka Repeats as Champion
(about 2 hours later)
MELBOURNE, Australia — After the tears and the explanations, Victoria Azarenka was expecting to be the finalist with the biggest obstacles to surmount Saturday.MELBOURNE, Australia — After the tears and the explanations, Victoria Azarenka was expecting to be the finalist with the biggest obstacles to surmount Saturday.
She has been far from her relentless best at this Australian Open for reasons that remain unclear, and she expected to be greeted with hostility after an emotional two days in which she was widely criticized for seeking medical attention at a pivotal phase of her semifinal victory over the American teenager Sloane Stephens.She has been far from her relentless best at this Australian Open for reasons that remain unclear, and she expected to be greeted with hostility after an emotional two days in which she was widely criticized for seeking medical attention at a pivotal phase of her semifinal victory over the American teenager Sloane Stephens.
But as it turned out at Rod Laver Arena, Li Na was the finalist who was in for the more traumatic evening, and in a momentum-swinging final interrupted by fireworks and, yes, more medical timeouts, Azarenka successfully defended her title by rallying to win, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.But as it turned out at Rod Laver Arena, Li Na was the finalist who was in for the more traumatic evening, and in a momentum-swinging final interrupted by fireworks and, yes, more medical timeouts, Azarenka successfully defended her title by rallying to win, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Li, the 30-year-old Chinese star who was also a finalist here in 2011, twisted her ankle twice and even said she blacked out for a moment after the back of her head slammed onto the court early in the third set after her second tumble.Li, the 30-year-old Chinese star who was also a finalist here in 2011, twisted her ankle twice and even said she blacked out for a moment after the back of her head slammed onto the court early in the third set after her second tumble.
“Maybe if I’m not falling down, it’s another story,” Li said of her defeat. “You never know. But the truth: I was falling down, so nothing can change.”“Maybe if I’m not falling down, it’s another story,” Li said of her defeat. “You never know. But the truth: I was falling down, so nothing can change.”
The victory allowed Azarenka, the globe-trotting 23-year-old from Belarus, to retain the No. 1 ranking ahead of Serena Williams, and it was testimony to Azarenka’s powers of resilience and concentration considering all the disruptions and negative energy coming her way on and off court last week. The victory allowed Azarenka, a globe-trotting 23-year-old from Belarus, to retain the No. 1 ranking ahead of Serena Williams, and it was testimony to Azarenka’s powers of resilience and concentration considering all the disruptions and negative energy coming her way on and off the court last week.
“She’s solid, she’s tough,” her coach, Sam Sumyk, said. “I know that, and I knew that before. I wasn’t really worried about that part.“She’s solid, she’s tough,” her coach, Sam Sumyk, said. “I know that, and I knew that before. I wasn’t really worried about that part.
“We sat up and spoke about this last night. I’m not looking for credit, but our conclusion was, let’s do everything we can to let the racket talk.”“We sat up and spoke about this last night. I’m not looking for credit, but our conclusion was, let’s do everything we can to let the racket talk.”
When it was over, Azarenka dropped that racket, eyes wide, and was soon on her chair sobbing into a towel after shaking hands with Li, who shed a few tears of her own before and after her typically lighthearted visit to the interview room.When it was over, Azarenka dropped that racket, eyes wide, and was soon on her chair sobbing into a towel after shaking hands with Li, who shed a few tears of her own before and after her typically lighthearted visit to the interview room.
“It’s been a long match, it’s been a tough match,” Azarenka said. “Li Na was absolutely playing great tennis. Unfortunate things that happened to her, you know, but that’s sport. But I’m just happy that everything I went through, I still could manage to give my best and really come out there and try to focus on my game and play tennis that I can produce. And that’s the thing I love to do, is to compete.”“It’s been a long match, it’s been a tough match,” Azarenka said. “Li Na was absolutely playing great tennis. Unfortunate things that happened to her, you know, but that’s sport. But I’m just happy that everything I went through, I still could manage to give my best and really come out there and try to focus on my game and play tennis that I can produce. And that’s the thing I love to do, is to compete.”
Azarenka’s baseline-hugging power game is the near-perfect fit for the true-bouncing, hardcourt version of the sport. And this victory, which required 2 hours 40 minutes, allowed Azarenka to join an elite club. She is now the fifth active women’s player with more than one Grand Slam singles title. The others: Serena Williams with 15; Venus Williams, 7; Maria Sharapova, 4; and Svetlana Kuznetsova, 2. Azarenka’s baseline-hugging power game is the near-perfect fit for the true-bouncing, hardcourt version of the sport. And this victory, which required 2 hours 40 minutes, allowed Azarenka to join an elite club. She is the fifth active women’s player with more than one Grand Slam singles title. The others: Serena Williams with 15; Venus Williams, 7; Maria Sharapova, 4; and Svetlana Kuznetsova, 2.
Azarenka dropped a set to Jamie Hampton of the United States in the third round and then lost her composure against Stephens.Azarenka dropped a set to Jamie Hampton of the United States in the third round and then lost her composure against Stephens.
With Stephens about to serve to stay in the match at 4-5 in the second set, Azarenka was treated on a changeover after complaining of breathing problems. She was eventually taken off the court for a medical timeout. The break lasted nearly 10 minutes, and Stephens’s coach, David Nainkin, later suggested that Azarenka had “bent” the rules to shift the momentum. With Stephens about to serve to stay in the match at 4-5 in the second set, Azarenka was treated during a changeover after complaining of breathing problems. She was eventually taken off the court for a medical timeout that lasted nearly 10 minutes. Stephens’s coach, David Nainkin, later suggested that Azarenka had “bent” the rules to shift the momentum.
Others were skeptical, too, including Patrick McEnroe, the ESPN analyst who is also the head of the United States Tennis Association’s player development program. On Twitter, McEnroe called the break an “absolute travesty.”Others were skeptical, too, including Patrick McEnroe, the ESPN analyst who is also the head of the United States Tennis Association’s player development program. On Twitter, McEnroe called the break an “absolute travesty.”
Sumyk said he was infuriated by McEnroe’s comment. “I think someone like Patrick McEnroe should be a little more responsible, courageous and smarter for sure,” Sumyk said.Sumyk said he was infuriated by McEnroe’s comment. “I think someone like Patrick McEnroe should be a little more responsible, courageous and smarter for sure,” Sumyk said.
Azarenka, while accepting blame for the timing of the medical timeout, insisted that she was suffering not just from nerves, but from a legitimate injury: a rib problem that she was told was affecting her breathing. She spent some of her rest day Friday making the news media rounds in an attempt to re-emphasize that she had not fabricated an injury or intentionally disrupted Stephens’s rhythm.Azarenka, while accepting blame for the timing of the medical timeout, insisted that she was suffering not just from nerves, but from a legitimate injury: a rib problem that she was told was affecting her breathing. She spent some of her rest day Friday making the news media rounds in an attempt to re-emphasize that she had not fabricated an injury or intentionally disrupted Stephens’s rhythm.
“What happened with Sloane, it was a big deal for sure,” she said. “It came out as a big deal. It wasn’t a big deal on the court. But I take it as a great learning experience and just try to live the moment and take the best things out of what happened and move forward.”“What happened with Sloane, it was a big deal for sure,” she said. “It came out as a big deal. It wasn’t a big deal on the court. But I take it as a great learning experience and just try to live the moment and take the best things out of what happened and move forward.”
In the wake of the debate, the crowd at the final greeted Li with considerably more warmth than it did Azarenka on this cool night when Azarenka played in leggings and when her usual prematch garb, hood pulled over her head, seemed appropriate. In the wake of the debate, the crowd at the final greeted Li with considerably more warmth than it did Azarenka on a cool night when Azarenka played in leggings and when her usual prematch garb, hood pulled over her head, seemed appropriate.
In her first service game, a fan shouted “Azarenka, quiet please!” — a reference to her extended wails during play. And the support for Li became more evident as the match progressed, fans shouting their encouragement in Mandarin and English while greeting most of Azarenka’s winners with polite, even subdued, applause. In her first service game, a fan shouted “Azarenka, quiet please!” — a reference to her extended wails during play. And the support for Li became more evident as the match progressed, with fans shouting their encouragement in Mandarin and English while greeting most of Azarenka’s winners with polite, even subdued, applause.
“I was expecting way worse, to be honest,” Azarenka said.“I was expecting way worse, to be honest,” Azarenka said.
But Azarenka kept her eye on the prize despite three extended breaks in play: two when Li required medical timeouts and one for the customary Australia Day fireworks display.But Azarenka kept her eye on the prize despite three extended breaks in play: two when Li required medical timeouts and one for the customary Australia Day fireworks display.
It was a tense, strange match: often better drama than tennis. There were 16 service breaks, with Li losing 9. Both women finished with many more unforced errors than winners. But on an unsteady night, Azarenka was the less inconsistent force, making 18 winners and 28 unforced errors to Li’s 36 winners and 57 unforced errors. It was a tense, strange match, often better drama than tennis. There were 16 service breaks, with Li losing nine. Both women finished with many more unforced errors than winners. But on an unsteady night, Azarenka was the less inconsistent force, making 18 winners and 28 unforced errors to Li’s 36 winners and 57 unforced errors.
The match changed complexion with Azarenka leading by 3-1 and Li serving at 15-30 in the second set. After a swing volley from Azarenka, Li tried to shift direction quickly. Her left ankle gave way, and she went down quickly, her racket clattering on the court as she winced and rolled onto her back.The match changed complexion with Azarenka leading by 3-1 and Li serving at 15-30 in the second set. After a swing volley from Azarenka, Li tried to shift direction quickly. Her left ankle gave way, and she went down quickly, her racket clattering on the court as she winced and rolled onto her back.
When she rose, she struggled to put weight on her left foot and was soon helped to her chair for treatment. Li’s left ankle was wrapped during a three-minute medical timeout as Azarenka kept warm by practicing her serve. When she rose, she struggled to put weight on her left foot and was helped to her chair for treatment. Li’s left ankle was wrapped during a three-minute medical timeout as Azarenka kept warm by practicing her serve.
When Li returned, she won five straight points to hold serve and go up, 0-40, on Azarenka’s serve. But in that important game, Azarenka managed to recover by winning five straight points to take a 4-2 lead and later closed out the set.When Li returned, she won five straight points to hold serve and go up, 0-40, on Azarenka’s serve. But in that important game, Azarenka managed to recover by winning five straight points to take a 4-2 lead and later closed out the set.
With Li ahead by 2-1 in the third set, there was a nine-minute break for the fireworks. On the first point after play resumed, Li’s left ankle buckled again as she ran for a backhand. She fell hard, and the back of her head slammed onto the court, knocking her visor off. With Li ahead by 2-1 in the third set, there was a nine-minute break for the fireworks. On the first point after play resumed, Li’s left ankle buckled again as she ran for a backhand. She fell hard, and the back of her head slammed onto the court, knocking off her visor.
Li said she blacked out for a moment and then, dazed, she eventually rose to a seated position on the baseline, where Victoria Simpson, the WTA’s primary health care provider, raised an index finger in front of her eyes, trying to check her reactions. “I was thinking, ‘This is tennis court, not like hospital,’ ” Li said. “She was like, ‘Follow my finger.’ ” Li said she blacked out for a moment. Dazed, she rose to a seated position on the baseline, where Victoria Simpson, the WTA’s primary health care provider, raised an index finger in front of her eyes, trying to check her reactions. “I was thinking, ‘This is tennis court, not like hospital,’ ” Li said. “She was like, ‘Follow my finger.’ ”
Li eventually returned to her chair under her own power. Simpson continued to manipulate her neck and check her symptoms. Another seven minutes passed before play resumed, and Azarenka reeled off the next three games to retake command of the match, this time for good.Li eventually returned to her chair under her own power. Simpson continued to manipulate her neck and check her symptoms. Another seven minutes passed before play resumed, and Azarenka reeled off the next three games to retake command of the match, this time for good.
It takes some doing to win a Grand Slam title in the era of Serena Williams when you are not close to your best for much of your run. But with Williams faltering in the quarterfinals against Stephens, Azarenka managed just that in Melbourne.It takes some doing to win a Grand Slam title in the era of Serena Williams when you are not close to your best for much of your run. But with Williams faltering in the quarterfinals against Stephens, Azarenka managed just that in Melbourne.
“To tell you the truth, I’m trying for two weeks now or maybe a little more to figure out what is going on,” Sumyk said. “I don’t have the answer, and believe me I’m looking, looking, looking, searching, and I still don’t have it. But I tell you what, seeing her with that trophy is a great feeling.”“To tell you the truth, I’m trying for two weeks now or maybe a little more to figure out what is going on,” Sumyk said. “I don’t have the answer, and believe me I’m looking, looking, looking, searching, and I still don’t have it. But I tell you what, seeing her with that trophy is a great feeling.”