Radwanska beats Defending Champion Azarenka to qualify for Australian Open semis

Today's fourth round match between the defending champion Azarenka and Radwanska ended the same way as that of between defending champion Djokovic and Wawrinka yesterday - ouster of the defending champion, of course. 

Right from outset, Radwanska was aggressive and determined to ease past the grunts of Azarenka she abhorred in Dubai  and won the first set 6-1. Although, Azarenka recovered and rebounded to win the second set 7-5, she simply could not get win a single game in the third set and lost 1-6, 7-5, 0-6.

The win takes Radwanska to her first Australian Open semi-final at the expense of the two-times defending champion. She plays Dominika Cibulkova from Slovakia in the semi final.

Azarenka's defeat brings an end to her 18-match winning run at Melbourne Park dating back to 2012 - which means the top three seeds are out of the women's draw after Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova were beaten earlier in the tournament.

In the other quarter finals matches, another set back came when 30th ranked E. Bouchard from Canada beat 14th ranked Ana Ivanovic 5-7, 7-5, 6-2. Although, Ivanovic was instrumental in the osuted of world no.1 Serena Williams, she could not cash on her golden opportunity to move on at least to the semis.

4th ranked Chinese Na Li is still on course and beat Italian F. Pennetta 6-2, 6-2 to reach the semis. She now meets E. Bouchard from Canada in the semi final.

Meanwhile, 20th ranked Dominika Cibulkova (Slovakia) beat 11th ranked Simona Halep (Romania) 6-3 6-0. She plays Radwanska in the semi final.

via Movin' Sports

If you like Imposing Headlines, please follow us on Facebook

Read more »

Azarenka beat Li Na - Wins Australian Open title for the second time

World no.1 Victoria Azarenka from Belarus successfully defended her 2012 title by defeating world no. 6 Chinese Li Na 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 at the Rod Laver Arena Saturday today. 

Azarenka and Li with their trophies [Screen shot: Euro Sport HD]

Having lost first set to Li, Azarenka came back to game by taking the second set. The third set was interrupted twice: First by a fire works and second when the set had just begun at 2-1 when Li Na slipped and fell over her back, hitting her head on the court floor. However after medical treatment, she back to play.

But Azarenka did not let her regain herself and continued the pressure and won the final set 6-3 and the match 4-6, 6-4, 6-3

Read more about it / see more screen shots at: Movin' Sports
Follow us on Facebook

Read more »

Revised tennis ranking put Federer and Azaranka back on top

The recent Wimbledon results have re-shuffled the ATP / WTA ranking structure, though marginally.

Wimbledon 2012 King and Queen: Seventh time Wimbledon Champion Roger Federer becomes World No.1, while Fifth time Wimbledon title winner Serena Williams moves up to no.4 place from no.6th place [Photo credit: PA / Mail Online ]

The 2012 Wimbledon Title winner Swiss Roger Federer who had been sidelined by Djokovic and Nadal at no.3 place, moves up two slots to be the reining No.1 once again - a ranking he held from 2004-2008. Federer beat Djokovic in the semi finals and British Andy Murray in the finals. Nadal was ousted in the second round from the tournament.

Novak Djokovic and Nadal slip one slot down each to be the new world no. 2 and 3, while Andy Murray remains at no.4.

Victoria Azarenka [with her French Open 2012 trophy] regains her WTA no.1 ranking

In the WTA Ranking, Victoria Azarenka moves back to her no.1 ranking, which was temporarily held by Russian Maria Sharapova after she when the French Open Grand Slam earlier this year. 

Sharapova now moves down two slots to be the world no.3, while Polish Agnieszka Radwanska moves from no.3 position to no.2. Serena Williams after her 5th win of the Wimbledon Ladies' Singles title moves up two notches from no. 6to no.4. Czech Petra Kvitova, the unsuccessful defending champion moves to no. 6 from no.4. Australian Samantha Stosur remains firm on her no. 5th ranking. 

Refer to ATP World Tour for complete list of first 100 ranked Gentlemen players.
Refer to WTA Singles Ranking for complete list of first 100 ranked Ladies.
You may also read exclusive Player's Profile - Roger Federer

via Movin' Sports

Read more »

Azarenka and Sharapova march into Indian Wells final

Azarenka to meet Sharapova in Indian Wells final on Sunday

All seems to be going well for the Indian Wells Tennis as today both World Number 1 Victoria Azarenka and World Number 2 Maria Sharapova marcehd into the final of the Indian Wells Tennis tournament.

Both victories have been hot favourites.

World Number 1 and Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka of Belarus beat  Germany's Angelique Kerber in straight sets 6-4 6-3 on Friday.

In the second semi final played early this morning, Ana Ivanovic of Serbia retired hurt from the second semi-final because of an injured left hip while trailing the Sharapova 6-4, 0-1. "I can't play, I can't push," a tearful Ivanovic told the chair umpire before withdrawing from her match in the last four.

Azarenka now faces second-seeded Maria Sharapova in Sunday's final. Sunday's title showdown will be a repeat of the Australian Open final when Azarenka won her first grand slam title with a crushing 6-3 6-0 victory over Sharapova in January early this year.


Shared from: Moving Sports

Read more »