Azarenka stuns Williams in Indian Wells final, back in top 10

Former world No.1 Victoria Azarenka has taken advantage of an error-prone Serena Williams to win her second Indian Wells title with a 6-4 6-4 victory in Sunday’s final in California.

The 26-year-old Belarusian broke the top-seeded American once in the opening set and twice in the second before wrapping up the win in just under 90 minutes in front of a stunned crowd at the sun-baked Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

An emotional Azarenka, the 13th seed who claimed her first Indian Wells crown in 2012, was able to celebrate her fourth victory over Williams in a WTA final.

“I had no doubt in my mind that I will give everything I can,” Azarenka told ESPN in a courtside interview about the see-sawing final game of the match.

“I couldn’t control how she was going to play and she was throwing some bombs there.

“But I stayed tough because it’s the only way to win, to stay strong, to keep doing what’s been working. I just wanted to work hard, give it my all, and it worked.”

World No.1 Williams, seeking a third title at Indian Wells after winning her second a distant 15 years ago, was badly let down by her forehand, though she did mount a late fightback and broke Azarenka in the eighth game of the second set for 3-5.

The American came close to levelling with Azarenka, serving for the match, wobbling at 15-40 but the Belarusian fired an ace, got to deuce when Williams hit a backhand long and clinched victory when her opponent hit a forehand service return long.

Azarenka’s win moved her back into the world’s top 10 for the first time since August 2014.

She will jump to world No.8 in the WTA Tour rankings Monday.