By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, April 2, 2016
Victoria Azarenka broke seven times shredding Svetlana Kuznetsova, 6-3, 6-2, to claim her 20th career title and complete the Indian Wells and Miami sweep.
Photo credit: Miami Open
Warning signals were sounded in the quick tapping of Victoria Azarenka's blue racquet on the purple court.
It's the tennis equivalent of the courtesy knock before kicking down someone's door.
Watch: Sharapova Hearing, Azarenka Training
Bounding inside the baseline, Azarenka broke seven times shredding Svetlana Kuznetsova, 6-3, 6-2, to claim her 20th career title and complete the Indian Wells and Miami sweep.
"The strategy was few different things, but the most important thing was really to dictate the game," Azarenka said. "She's a great player and she's very good in defense. So for me it was important for me to break that down and go for my shots. I was really more focused on how I play and my execution more than anything."
It is the third Key Biscayne championship for Azarenka and the first time she's completed a tournament triple-play in her career.
Even more impressive: Azarenka swept Grand Slam champions in each of her three Miami finals. She permitted just four games slamming Serena Williams in the 2009 final and allowed just five games stomping Maria Sharapova in the 2011 final.
Repeatedly stepping inside the baseline to take the ball on the rise, Azarenka spent the day deconstructiong the two-time Grand Slam champion's serve. She won 12 of 14 points played on Kuznetsova's second serve and smacked some massive first strikes converting seven of 12 break points.
The only signs of stress in a near flawless performance were some jittery service games: Azarenka double faulted six times.
The victory vaults Azarenka back to the Top 5 for the first time since May 26, 2014: She is projected to rise to No. 5 when the new rankings are released on Monday and she's playing with the authority of one deteremined to keep this roll going.
"It was pretty tough conditions being so hot and tough to serve, the ball was flying so much," Azarenka told ESPN's Brad Gilbert afterward. "I was taking time away from her and trying to step into the net a lot on some of the key points.
"This just gives me even more inspiration to keep working hard. When you put everything you have in it, the win is way more important."
The 26-year-old Belarusian is the third woman to complete the rare coast-to-coast title trek of winning Indian Wells and Miami in the same season. She joins Steff Graf (1994, 1996) and Kim Clijsters (2010) in achieving the sunshine sweep.
It also puts Azarenka in select company as the fourth woman rule Key Biscayne three or more times along with Serena (eight titles), Graf (five) and Venus (three).
"I feel blessed, very humbled," Azarenka said. "It's an honor to stand next to those amazing champions. I'm very happy to step out on the court. The results are just great. I just want to continue to improve."
Tap-dancing inside the baseline onto the purple paint, Azarenka beat up on the yellow ball as if determined to leave it black and blue.
There are five primary reasons why Azarenka is playing as if she's the best player in the world right now:
1. Straddling the baseline, she's hitting the ball earlier and robbing reaction time from opponents.
2. Her precision off both wings is unmatched at the moment.
3. The sniper return game leaves no serve safe: Azarenka is breaking in better than half of her return games.
4. She commands the center of the court better than any woman in the world.
5. Azarenka's desire to compete, the rush of playing important rallies, is fiercer than anyone else.
She showed all that breaking twice in a row to open a 3-0 lead. A buzzing running pass down the line from Kuznetsova roused the Russian and rattled the Belarusian. Azarenka spit up successive double faults gifting the break for 1-3.
As a gusty wind spiked, Kuznetsova drew applause changing from a pink headband to a white visor.
It didn't change her fortunes.
Spinning a double fault into net to face a third break point, Kuznetsova couldn't stand up to Azarenka's baseline barrage. Her third break extended Azarenka's lead to 4-1.
The 2006 Miami champion can problem solve when she's committed. Kuznetsova showed resilience and adaptability defeating Caroline Garcia, Serena and Ekaterina Makarova en route to the final. But she didn't change up her return position much seeing Azarenka spit up double faults. Azarenka struggled to pick up her toss in the high sun and her serve went haywire again in the sixth game. A wild forehand that sailed gave the break back to Kuznetsova.
It's impressive Azarenka can shake off twitchy service games and get back to demolition work on return. A sweeping forehand swing volley capped Azarenka's fourth consecutive break for 5-2.
Azarenka double faulted belted a ball in frustration for a code violation warning then buried a backhand into net capping another tense, sloppy service game.
Disconnecting from the serving woes, Azarenka whipped through her fourth break, snatching a one-set lead with a clenched fist when Kuznetsova sailed a forehand.
Fans applauded when Kuznetsova finally held for the first time for 1-all, but Azarenka ravaged her serve again breaking for 3-1. Storming forward, Azarenka clocked a drive forehand into the corner stamping an impressive hold for 4-1.
A blistering return performance ended with a final diagonal backhand slash as Azarenka broke for the seventh time capping the deconstruction in 77 minutes. It raised Azarenka's record to 22-1 this season, proving some perspective. It took Azarenka until Wimbledon to reach the 20-win mark in 2015.
We've seen Serena sulk, Simona shut down, Garbine snipe at her coach and Angelique struggle for consistency after her Australian Open triumph.
Azarenka is not only playing the most dynamic tennis in the world, she's exuding the most desire doing it, which should make upcoming clay-court season very intriguing.