Articles
Serena dominates Azarenka to win Italian Open
Category: Sports Written by Associated Press
Serena Williams returns the ball to Belarus' Victoria Azarenka during their final match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, May 19. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
by Andrew Dampf
ROME (AP) — Serena Williams won her fourth consecutive title of the year in dominating fashion Sunday, beating third-seeded Victoria Azarenka 6-1, 6-3 in the Italian Open final.
The top-ranked American will enter the French Open, which starts next Sunday, on a career-best 24-match winning streak.
Williams was coming off consecutive titles in Miami; Charleston, South Carolina; and Madrid last week.
She didn't drop a set while winning this title.
Williams' only previous title at this clay-court event came in 2002, when she beat Justine Henin in the final.
That was also the year she won her only title at Roland Garros. Last year in Paris, Williams lost in the opening round of a major for the first time, falling to 111th-ranked Virginie Razzano of France.
Later, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were renewing their rivalry in the men's final at the Foro Italico.
On a pleasant spring day, Williams immediately took control by breaking Azarenka's serve twice to take a 3-0 lead in the opening set.
The 15-time Grand Slam winner slugged winners at will off both Azarenka's first and second serves, stepping into the court to dictate play at every opportunity.
Azarenka grew distraught at the end of the first set, twice slamming her racket on the court in desperation.
After trading breaks midway through the second set, Williams took control again when Azarenka double faulted to hand her a 5-3 lead. Williams then served out the match at love and let out a big scream when she unleashed a backhand winner down the line to close it out.
Williams held a massive 41-12 edge in winners and served nine aces to Azarenka's none.
Williams improved to 12-2 in her career against Azarenka, who spent 51 weeks at No. 1 before Williams reclaimed the top spot in February.
Williams had twice won 21 matches in a row before, although both of those runs came more than a decade ago, in 2002 and the beginning of 2003.
Martina Navratilova established the longest women's winning run in the Open Era at 74 matches in 1984.
At 31, Williams is back at the top of her game after missing 11 months in 2010 and 2011 with a right foot injury and a pulmonary embolism.
It was Azarenka's first final since beating Williams for the title in February at Doha, Qatar. That followed the Belarussian's Australian Open victory. Since then, Azarenka has been slowed by right ankle and left foot injuries.
It was the 51st title of Williams' career. Navratilova also holds the record in that category with a seemingly insurmountable 167 titles. Williams moved within two titles of matching Monica Seles for ninth on the all-time list.
Wiilliams was already first among active players and now has seven more titles than her sister Venus, who is second on the list and watched the final from the stands.
Earlier in the women's doubles final, Su-Wei Hsieh of Taiwan and Peng Shuai of China upset the top-ranked Italian pair of Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci 4-6, 6-3, 10-8.
Your comments are welcome.
Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/NewPghCourier
Join us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Pittsburgh-Courier/143866755628836?ref=hl
Download our mobile app at http://www.appshopper.com/news/new-pittsburgh-courier
Add new comment
Last Updated on Sunday, 19 May 2013 12:40
Hits: 287
No Triple Crown: Oxbow wins wire-to-wire at Preakness
Category: Sports Written by Associated Press
Oxbow, ridden by jockey Gary Stevens, wins the 138th Preakness Stakes horse race at Pimlico Race Course, May 18, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
by Richard Rosenblatt
BALTIMORE (AP) — Right from the start, a horse trained by one not so over-the-hill Hall of Famer and ridden by another took control of the Preakness. The result: a huge upset and the end of any hopes for a Triple Crown attempt at the Belmont Stakes.
Last Updated on Sunday, 19 May 2013 09:30
Hits: 157
Dropped fly ball gives Pirates 5-4 win over Astros
Category: Sports Written by Associated Press
Pirates' Russell Martin (55) is congratulated by coach Dave Jauss after Astros shortstop Jake Elmore, and right fielder Jimmy Paredes collided as they tried to catch a pop fly by Martin with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth inning of a baseball game May 17. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Things are going so well for the Pittsburgh Pirates these days that opposing teams can't even make routine catches.
Last Updated on Sunday, 19 May 2013 09:45
Hits: 152
What to watch for at the Preakness
Category: Sports Written by Associated Press
In this photo taken on Saturday, May 4, jockey Joel Rosario, third from left, celebrates as Orb crosses the finish line to win the 139th Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
by Richard Rosenblatt
BALTIMORE (AP) — All eyes will be on Kentucky Derby winner Orb in the Preakness Stakes on Saturday. The 3-year-old colt will take on eight challengers in the second leg of the Triple Crown. If he wins, Orb will attempt to become the first Triple Crown champion since Affirmed in 1978 at the Belmont Stakes on June 8. In the Preakness, Orb will be facing five horses he defeated in the Derby and three who did not run in the race.
Here's a guide to watching the race:
___
— INSIDE START. Orb will start from the inside, No. 1 gate. If this was the Kentucky Derby that could be a major problem because there would be more of a chance of getting squeezed back in the pack. The Derby field was 19; the Preakness is nine, with a longer run to the first turn than at Churchill Downs. However, since 1961 only one horse — Tabasco Cat in 1994 — has won from the No. 1 post.
— FIRST TURN. By the first turn, we'll know whether Orb, under jockey Joel Rosario, has established clear-running position. The question is how far back he'll settle. In the Derby, with its much larger field, Orb dropped 18 lengths off the pace. Look for him to be much closer as Govenor Charlie, Goldencents, Itsmyluckyday and Titletown Five vie for the early lead.
— BACKSTRETCH: Around the turn and into the backstretch, Orb should find a comfortable groove as the field sorts into clusters: speed horses, midpack runners and closers. If the early pace is fast, Orb could be farther back; if it's slow, he could be in the middle.
— FINAL TURN: Heading into the final turn is when Orb should be making his move. In the Derby, Rosario waited patiently to make the call and when he did, Orb went from 16th to the lead in the final half-mile and won by 2½ lengths.
— HEADED FOR HOME: The stretch run is anyone's guess, but if all goes according to form, Orb should be in the mix to win no matter what the pace. Among proven closers in the field are Mylute, Departing and Will Take Charge. If the sloppy track was the reason both Goldencents and Itsmyluckday ran so poorly, then either or both could rebound with a big race and prove hard to catch in the lane.
___
Follow Richard Rosenblatt on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/rosenblattap
Last Updated on Sunday, 19 May 2013 09:23
Hits: 254
Penguins take control vs. Senators behind Crosby
Category: Sports Written by Associated Press
Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby (87) celebrates with teammate Pascal Dupuis (9) as Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson (41) reacts to Crosby's second goal of the first period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, in Pittsburgh on May 17. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
by Will Graves
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Dan Bylsma has spent more than four years watching Sidney Crosby be Sidney Crosby.
Last Updated on Saturday, 18 May 2013 13:43
Hits: 124
More Articles...
Subcategories
Trending Topics
Digital Daily Signup
Sign up now for the New Pittsburgh Courier Digital Daily newsletter!
