Djokovic, Azarenka breeze at Indian Wells

Novak Djokovic and Victoria Azarenka rolled to easy victories in the BNP Paribas Open on Sunday, with the top- ranked man collecting his record fifth title and Azarenka winning for the second time to get back into the world’s top 10.

Djokovic beat Milos Raonic 6- 2, 6- 0 to improve his match record to 22- 1 this year.

It was the Serb’s third consecutive title at Indian Wells ( Riverside County), breaking a tie with four- time champion Roger Federer, who lost to Djokovic the past two years in the final and skipped this year because of a knee injury.

Azarenka defeated errorprone Serena Williams 6- 4, 6- 4.

Azarenka’s victory and Williams’ return to the final for the first time since 2001, when a hostile crowd triggered her 14- year boycott, was overshadowed by comments from tournament director Raymond Moore. Earlier Sunday, he criticized the WTA Tour and its players, saying they “ride on the coattails of the men” while describing the women as “physically attractive and competitively attractive.” He later issued an apology.

Williams objected, saying, “Those remarks are very much mistaken and very, very, very inaccurate.” Azarenka also expressed disappointment.

Djokovic and Azarenka each earned $ 1.02 million.

Williams was bidding to become the first woman to win three titles at Indian Wells, where she won in 1999 and 2001. After getting booed heavily while beating Kim Clijsters for her last title here, she vowed never to return. That year, the Williams sisters were supposed to meet in a semifinal, but Venus withdrew with a knee injury. The crowd reacted harshly and their father Richard said he heard racial taunts.

“Obviously, the last time I was there was probably the worst moment of my whole career. Not probably. Sure,” Williams said. “To be back out there, which I never thought I would be, was really different and special. I was overwhelmed with emotions and nerves.”