Azarenka routs Sharapova, wins first Grand Slam title

Melbourne , Australia — Victoria Azarenka routed Maria Sharapova 6-3, 6-0 to win the Australian Open women’s title and secure the No. 1 ranking on Saturday night, all in her first Grand Slam final.

The 22-year-old Belarusian dropped her opening service game and was down 2-0 after a nervous start before winning 12 of the next 13 games to take the match away from Sharapova, a three-time major winner and the 2008 Australian champion.

She became only the third woman to earn the No. 1 spot after winning her first Grand Slam title.

Caroline Wozniacki vacated the top spot when she lost in the quarterfinals, leaving both Azarenka and Sharapova to battle it out for the title and the top ranking.

“Wow,” Azarenka said as she first spoke to the crowd, then started giggling. She thanked her support team, saying “You made me realize I can believe in myself and I can finally raise this trophy.”

And she paid special credit to her grandmother, “the person who inspires me the most in my life.”

Azarenka has been a distinctive presence at Melbourne Park as much as for her shrieks and hoots with each shot and seemingly boundless energy as for her white shorts, blue singlet and lime green head and wrist bands.

frenetic movement

Against Sharapova, she maintained the frenetic movement that has been the hallmark of her campaign in Australia, her 25th consecutive major. She won the Sydney International title the weekend before the season’s first major and is now on a 12-match winning streak, including a semifinal win against 2011 Australian Open champion Kim Clijsters.

The third-seeded Azarenka set up championship point with a stunning forehand winner and sealed it when Sharapova netted a backhand.

Azarenka dropped onto her knees at the baseline with her hands over her face. She got up, held up her hands and mouthed “What happened?” before jogging up to her coach in the stands to celebrate.

Finishing off the match in 1 hour, 22 minutes at Rod Laver Arena seemed to silence the critics.

Sharapova also won only three games in a 2007 final loss to Serena Williams, who also conceded only three games in the 2009 final against Dinara Safina.

Azarenka took control of the match after holding for the first time, breaking Sharapova at love and then holding again on a three-game roll.

Sharapova held, finishing off with an ace, to level at 3-3 in the first set but didn’t win another game.

Azarenka started dictating the points, coming to the net at times, hitting winners from the baseline and forcing the 24-year-old Russian to the extremes on both sides of the court. /AP