The match didn’t sound pretty that’s for sure but when the two famed screechers, Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova, took to the court to play their finals match in Miami and it was Azarenka who walked away with a straight sets victory and the trophy.
Azarenka had a hip problem that forced her to retire last week in Indian Wells and there was some doubt as to if she would even play in Miami, let alone win. Vika stepped up and confidently thrashed the former world number one 6-1, 6-4.
Once Azarenka found her stride in Miami she was looking for scalps, taking down Kim Clijsters and Vera Zvonareva before finally Sharapova.
Vika had a 4-0 lead in the second set before Maria clawed her way back in but it was too little too late.
It was definitely the new and improved Victoria Azarenka who took to the c
ourt. Lately Vika seems to have matured, admitting when she has played badly and shaking losses off more freely. “What I mean by not caring about losing is just not creating such a big drama out of it. If you lose, you lose. It’s not the end of the world. It sounds a bit out there, but with what happened in Japan, for example, we’re here playing tennis, being able to do something we love. So why make a big deal out of it?”
Interestingly when she was asked what she would do with her $700,000 winners cheque she said “Well, you have to pay taxes from it, so it rips your heart out. I actually have absolutely everything I want in my life. Money won’t make me happy. But I can’t complain.”
“It’s a bit too late to pick up the pace when you’re down a set and 4-0. I wish I picked it up earlier. Against a player like her you have to have that level from the start or she’s going to go with it and only get better.” – Maria Sharapova
“She likes to swing big when she has the time, so I tried to take time 
away from her. It seemed she was missing a lot because of my game. In the end she stepped it up – I wasn’t doing anything wrong, she was just going for her shots. I had to really hang in there and keep playing my game.” – Victoria Azarenka
“I played very well in Indian Wells but got injured; for me to come here without practicing enough and step up my game so well is amazing. I have to thank my physio, JP, who did an incredible job for me to play here.” – Victoria Azarenka
