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Exciting Times Await Women’s Game: Azarenka
January 29, 2012

Victoria Azarenka showing off her first Grand Slam trophy. (Agency Photo) Victoria Azarenka showing off her first Grand Slam trophy. (Agency Photo)
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Newly crowned Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka says she believes women’s tennis is in for a fascinating 12 months as a new generation challenges the supremacy of the established stars.

Azarenka’s 6-3, 6-0 win over three-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova was the 22-year-old’s first triumph at a major championship, and it will also put her the top of the next women’s ranking, which is set to be released today.

The Belarusian was the fifth different women’s Grand Slam winner in a row and the fourth first-time champion in succession, following Li Na at Roland Garros, Petra Kvitova at Wimbledon and Samantha Stosur at the US Open.

“I think it’s a great thing for women’s tennis,” Azarenka said on Sunday. “We have a good rivalry, I would say.

“With Li Na winning a Grand Slam, Sam Stosur winning a Grand Slam, I think that it’s a great competition and we can really look forward for the women’s game. It’s at a great level right now.”

The 21-year-old Kvitova went into the tournament as one of the favorites but was beaten in the semifinals by Sharapova, who agreed there were exciting times ahead.

“In terms of what the tour has to offer, I hope that we have a lot of great tennis, and personally, I hope I do, too,” the Russian said.

While the changes are positive for the up-and-coming players, the Australian Open may have seen the beginning of the end for a number of Grand Slam winners.

Serena Williams, 30, who is virtually a part-time player due to injuries and a lack of motivation, was soundly beaten in the fourth round by unheralded Russian Ekaterina Makarova. The American, a 13-time Grand Slam winner, didn’t play after last year’s US Open, later admitting she had fallen out of love with tennis.

Kim Clijsters, 28, has already indicated this is her last year on the tour and she looked capable of defending her title after outplaying now-deposed No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki, before she ran into Azarenka in the semifinals.

Stosur crumbled under the pressure of home expectations when she lost to little-known Romanian Sorana Cirstea in the first round, while two-time Grand Slam winner Svetlana Kuznetsova, 26, lost her fourth round match to 22-year-old German Sabine Lisicki.

But there were promising signs for ex-world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic, who will return to the top 20. 

Agence France-Presse