VICTORIA AZARENKA OF BELARUS WINS HER THIRD MIAMI OPEN TITLE AFTER JUST WINNING INDIAN WELLS

Written by: Staff on 3rd April 2016

Victoria Azarenka of Belarus kisses the Butch Buchholz Trophy after defeating Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia during the women's singles final match at the Miami Open tennis tournament on Key Biscayne, Miami, Florida, USA, 02 April 2016. EPA/ERIK S. LESSER

epa05241305 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus kisses the Butch Buchholz Trophy after defeating Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia during the women's singles final match at the Miami Open tennis tournament on Key Biscayne, Miami, Florida, USA, 02 April 2016. EPA/ERIK S. LESSER |

Victoria Azarenka of Belarus kisses the Butch Buchholz Trophy after defeating Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia during the women’s singles final match at the Miami Open tennis tournament on Key Biscayne, Miami, Florida, USA, 02 April 2016. EPA/ERIK S. LESSER

Victoria Azarenka defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-3,6-2 to win her third Miami Open title. Azarenka is quickly establishing herself as a legitimate threat to Serena Williams’ dominance of the women’s tour this year. Azarenka contended with extreme heat and humidity on the stadium during the final and seemed to embrace it. She is in outstanding condition physically and her groundstrokes are powerful, consistent and have laser like accuracy. Both players agreed that the conditions were very tough with the heat, humidity and for Kuznetsova the bright sunlight played a factor in her performance. “I couldn’t see the ball at the start, but it got better. For the first 40 minutes it was the deuce side and then on the add side. So you just have to hang in there,” Kuznetsova said. There is no question that midday matches can have almost a blinding glare from the South Florida sun at an angle and intensity that the players are not used to.

The players will now move on to the clay court season. Clay is not considered Azarenka’s strong surface but she is determined to keep her level of play and the momentum she has gained in her comeback going and show everyone she can win on clay as well.

The men’s final will be played today at 1pm featuring world’s #1 Novak Djokovic and #6 Kei Nishikori. Nishikori is very popular in Miami perhaps because he trains at Bolletieri’s IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Nishikori is used to the weather in South Florida because he played many junior tournaments and other events since he moved to Bradenton at 14 years old. However his opponent Novak Djokovic has looked almost unbeatable at the Miami Open this year. Novak seems to thrive in these conditions and is playing with incredible resolve. It will take a perfect match from Nishikori if he is to beat Djokovic. Otherwise the Serb will continue to distance himself from everyone else on the pro tour. Djokovic is looking to win his 3rd title in a row in Miami and his 6th overall which would tie Andre Agassi.

Victoria Azarenka of Belarus poses with the Butch Buchholz Trophy on the beach after defeating Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia during the women’s singles final match at the Miami Open tennis tournament on Key Biscayne, Miami, Florida, USA, 02 April 2016. EPA/ERIK S. LESSER

Novak Djokovic of Serbia in action against David Goffin of Belgium during a semifinal round match at the Miami Open tennis tournament on Key Biscayne, Miami, Florida, USA, 01 April 2016. EPA/ERIK S. LESSER

Kei Nishikori of Japan serves against Nick Kyrgios of Australia during their semifinal match at the Miami Open tennis tournament on Key Biscayne, Miami, Florida, USA, 01 April 2016. EPA/RHONA WISE

Topics: Atp World Tour, Kei Nishikori, Miami Open tennis, Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Tennis News, Victoria Azarenka, Wta