Victoria Azarenka completed a comprehensive Australian Open final victory over Maria Sharapova to claim her first Grand Slam title on Saturday.
The Belarusian replaced Caroline Wozniacki as world number one after defeating the more experienced Russian 6-3 6-0 in an hour and 22 minutes at Rod Laver arena, coasting through the second set before collapsing to her knees in joyous tears.
Azarenka, 22, showed composure and class from beginning to end in the Melbourne venue, overcoming a couple of early double faults to win on her opening service and never losing a break in her first Grand Slam final.
Sharapova, three times a Grand Slam queen but also a losing finalist at Wimbledon last July, started off with her usual hard-hitting game. However, the Belarusian was up to the challenge and was every bit as powerful, something which helped her break the Russian in game eight, via backhand volley, to go 5-3 in front.
The Russian player could also have returned to the world’s top ranking had she won, but 30 unforced errors put paid to that aim as her opponent closed out the first set and flew through the opening games of the second.
At 3-0 in set two it was no longer in doubt, at 5-0 it had been a procession and the sixth game was Azarenka’s shot to serve for the title, something she did coolly for the greatest success of her young career.