Serena Williams came wrapped to play.  Her left thigh heavily taped to the knee.  Azarenka’s nervous serving helped Serena Williams get back an early break to bring the first set to 2 all.  Serena was visibly tired resting at the back wall, but played an impressive service game with a running cross court passing shot winner and finished the game with an ace out wide at 40-15.  That was the last game Serena would win in the set as Williams started to hold back on her groundstrokes which started to drop a foot long.  Serena saved 3 set points serving at 3-5, but ultimately surrendered the set when her down the line backhand found the net to give Azarenka a 6-3 lead.

Wiliams started the second set with brilliant moments of sharply angled cross court winners from both the forehand and backhand, but she was not able to break and after serving to 1 all, Serena did not win another game.  Serena had a couple chances to break when she was down 1-5, but Azarenka was able to hold to take the Sony Ericsson Open Trophy 6-3, 6-1.

Azarenka in Indian Wells

Azarenka’s move to Arizona from Belarus was made possible by NHL Chicago Blackhawk Goalie, Nikolai Khabibulin, and his wife, who is a friend of Azarenka’s mother.  The Khabibulin’s offered their home and financial support so Azarenka could access quality coaching in the United States.

Azarenka is currently hitting the weights with Mark Wellington from Delray Beach who has helped Maria Sharapova & Xavier Malisse.

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