VICTORIA “VIKA” AZARENKA AND SLOANE STEPHENS HEADLINE FIRST WEEK OF 2016 WTA TENNIS TOUR BY CHERYL SHRUM

Written by: Staff on 12th January 2016

International Tennis Tournament in Brisbane

VICTORIA "VIKA" AZARENKA AND SLOANE STEPHENS HEADLINE FIRST WEEK OF 2016 WTA TENNIS TOUR BY CHERYL SHRUM

epa05093694 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus returns the ball to Angelique Kerber of Germany during the Women's Final at the Brisbane International Tennis Tournament in Brisbane, Australia, 09 January 2016. EPA/DAVE HUNT AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT |

Things are looking good for Victoria Azarenka and Sloane Stephens so far in 2016.

Azarenka won the Brisbane International, her first title since 2013. The unseeded Belarusian, who has been plagued by injuries the past several years, beat the fourth-seeded Angelique Kerber 6-3 6-1.

Azarenka, looking very strong all week, lost a total of just 13 games in her four matches leading up to the final.

”It feels like an accomplishment. I’m not sure I feel relief. I wanted to win the title, but I didn’t feel, ‘If this doesn’t happen the world is going to end.’ I think that’s when you get like relief,” said a happy Azarenka, after the match.

Relieved or not, Azarenka has to be feeling pretty good about her chances at the Australian Open.

Meanwhile in Auckland, New Zealand, Sloane Stephens was all smiles after beating Julia Goerges in the ASB Classic final, 7-5, 6-2. For Stephens, the world number 30 and a former semi-finalist at Melbourne Park, it was her second WTA title.

Ladies and Gentleman, your 2016 @ASBClassic Champion, @SloaneStephens! #WTA – Photo by @wta via Instagram.

Since hitting the tour, expectations have been high and results have been spotty for this young American player. Her performance in a double-header of sorts at the ASB may have just put that issue to rest.

To reach the finals, Stephens had to beat No. 3 seed Caroline Wozniacki, a player she hadn’t won a set from in five previous meetings. Leading 5-2 in the first set, the match was called for rain and resumed the following day where Stephens was able to hold off Wozniaki to take the match 6-2, 7-6.

At the Shenzhen Open, World No. 4 Agnieszka Radwanska took out American Alison Riske 6-3, 6-2 to win her first title of 2016 and continue her 2015 season-ending streak where she won titles at Tokyo, Tianjin and the WTA Finals in Singapore. The win will move Radwanska up to No. 4 in the world rankings, ahead of the Australian Open.

In doubles, Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza created some headlines of their own as they continue the longest doubles winning streak in 22 years. The doubles duo started their season together at the Brisbane International, winning their 10th WTA doubles title together and have now won 26 matches in a row. The longest doubles winning streak since Gigi Fernandez and Natasha Zvereva won 28 matches in a row together in 1994.

The doubles duo is playing again this week at the Apia International Sydney before they head to the Australian Open.

Topics: 10sballs.com, Agnieszka Rawdwanska, Asb Classic, Brisbane International, Cheryl Shrum, Shenzhen Open, Sloane Stephens, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, Victoria Azarenka, Wta