Easy for Williams but Azarenka has to work
Tennis
SERENA Williams began the defence of her WTA Championships title with a crushing win over Angelique Kerber, while second seed Victoria Azarenka struggled past Sara Errani.
Williams’ 6-3, 6-1 victory over German Kerber lasted only an hour and four minutes – substantially quicker than the first set between Azarenka and Errani in the opening roundrobin match at Istanbul’s Sinan Erdem Dome.
Kerber is the in the red group only player to have ever beaten Williams, and one of only four different players the American has lost to since Wimbledon last year. That came in Cincinnati last summer but there was never any danger of a repeat.
The American has won the title on her two most recent appearances, in 2009 and 2012, and she lost just three points on first serve as she wrapped up victory with the minimum of fuss.
Although Azarenka’s win in the white group opener was also straight sets – 7-6 (7/4) 6-2 – it could not have been more different. The first set alone took an hour and 28 minutes, with Errani leading 5-2 and serving for it three times only to lose out on a tie-break.
Azarenka looked
rusty
and hesitant until she finally got into her stride to win the last four games and the match after two hours and 14 minutes.
The 24-year-old had been on a three-match losing streak dating back to the US open semi-finals more than a month ago. A final defeat by Williams in New York was followed by opening losses in both Tokyo and Beijing, but a winning start to her campaign puts her in a good position to qualify for the semi-finals.