Azarenka overcomes Stephens to meet Li in Australian Open final

Source:Xinhua Published: 2013-1-24 16:25:50

Defending champion Victoria Azarenka overcame American teenager Sloane Stephens to meet Li Na of China in the final of the Australian Open here on Thursday.

The 19-year-old Stephens saved five match points before the first-seeded Belarusian took the 6-1, 6-4 semifinal victory in one hour 41 minutes.

Azarenka broke Stephens in the firs game and again in the fifth and seventh to wrap up the first set in 33 minutes.

Stephens managed two service breaks in the second set but failed to capitalise on them as Azarenka served out the match.

The top seed left the court for medical treatment on a shoulder problem at 5-4.

Azarenka will defend her only Grand Slam title against sixth-seeded Li Na on Saturday, who stunned Russian Maria Sharapova to reach her second Australian Open final in three years.

Posted in: Tennis

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