Azarenka routs Sharapova in Australian Open final

Victoria Azarenka of Belarus absolutely routed Maria Sharapova of Russia Saturday night to not only claim the 2012 Australian Open title, but also to take over the World No. 1 ranking.

The match was over in just 1 hour 22 minutes as Azarenka handily took down three-time Grand Slam winner Sharapova 6-3, 6-0, winning 12 of the last 13 games after dropping her first service game and falling behind 2-0.

It was Azarenka’s first Grand Slam final appearance, winning 11 straight matches to get there. Her previous best performance at a major was a semifinal loss to Petra Kvitova at Wimbledon last year.

Australian Open Final set – Azarenka vs. Sharapova

Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova are set for a final battle with nothing more on the line than the Australian Open Title, and the World No. 1 ranking.

In one semifinal, the No. 4 seed, Sharapova, showing a remarkable comeback after shoulder surgery, defeated the No. 2 seed, Petra Kvitova in a close contest, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4. No one has ever come back this far after the type of surgery she has had.

In the other semifinal, No. 3 seed, Azarenka, downed No. 11 seed Kim Clijsters in an equally close match, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.

Azarenka defeats Clijsters to gain first major final

No. 3 seed, Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, won a hard-fought semifinal match over No. 11 seed, Kim Clijsters of Belgium, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3, to advance to her first ever major final at the 2012 Australian Open.

Azarenka won the first set 6-4, then fell apart to lose the 2nd set 1-6. Clijsters was broken early in the 3rd set, but surged back, saving many game points to break back. Azarenka, however, stayed strong, breaking three times in the third set to secure victory in only her second appearance in the semifinal of a major.

Clijsters knocks Wozniacki from the top ranking

In a close match, Kim Clijsters of Belgium has effectively knocked Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark from her perch as World No. 1. In the Quarterfinals of the Australian Open, Clijsters defeated Wozniacki in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6(7-4).

Wozniacki will now be usurped by either Victoria Azarenka, Petra Kvitova, or Maria Sharapova, all three of whom are still in contention.

Clijsters dominated from the baseline for much of the match, and showed no visible effects from the twisted ankle she suffered against Na Li in the fourth round.

Wozniacki upset by Radwanska, could lose No. 1 ranking

World No. 1, Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, was upset on Wednesday in a quarterfinal match at the 2012 WTA Apia International Sydney tournament by No. 7 seed, Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland.

Wozniacki had a chance to serve out the match at 5-4 in the second set, but was broken, then lost four straight games leading to a 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 defeat. In that final set, the 21-year-old Dane underwent multiple treatments on her left wrist.

Sharapova withdraws with ankle injury

World No. 2 Maria Sharapova of Russia came down awkwardly after a serve in her quarterfinal match in Tokyo and fell to the court when her left ankle buckled.

Just minutes later, the ankle was swollen to twice its normal size and the three-time Grand Slam champion had to be helped out of the locker room and taken to a hospital for an MRI. On her website Sharapova said “good news is that the MRI showed no big damage in the ankle.”

She has pulled out of the China Open next week but hopes to play at the prestigious WTA Championships scheduled to begin October 25 in Istanbul.

Wimbledon champ, Kvitova, ousted at U.S. Open

Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic, who won her first major title at Wimbledon last month, has been sent home early by No. 49 ranked Alexandra Dulgheru of Romania. It was a straight-sets victory, 7-6(3), 6-3 for the 22-year-old Dulgheru who has only two career WTA singles titles.

Kvitova became the first reigning women’s Wimbledon champion to lose in the first round of the U.S. Open in the modern era, not a distinction one wants to have.

Kvitova downs Sharapova for Wimbledon championship

No. 8 seed, Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic, realized her dream to become a Wimbledon champion by defeating a former Wimbledon champion, No. 5 seed, Maria Sharapova of Russia in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4.

It looked to be a great final from the start, as Sharapova was finally able to make it back to the Wimbledon final after a seven-year drought. But 21-year-old Kvitova was up to the task in her first Wimbledon final with a powerful lefty serve and powerful lforehand that kept Sharapova off balance throughout the match.

Cibulkova dismisses Wozniacki, Pironkova sends Venus packing

No. 24 seed, Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia, played her heart out and narrowly defeated No. 1, Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark in round four at Wimbledon, 1-6, 7-6(5), 7-5.

Also, No. 32 seed, Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria easily downed No. 23 seed, Venus Williams of the USA.

In the Quarterfinals, Dominika will face No. 6 seed, Maria Sharapova of Russia. Tsvetana will face No. 8 seed, Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic.

With Wozniacki, and both Williams sisters out of the picture, it sure opens up the field for the remaining players. Perhaps this is the year Maria Sharapova will add another championship to her list of titles.

Clijsters upset by Kvitova in Paris final

The day before the rankings showed Kim Clijsters has ascended the ladder to World No. 1 once again, she was upset by Petra Kvitova in the final of the Open Gaz de France, 6-4, 6-3.

”I would like to dedicate this trophy to my grandfather, who passed away last week,” Kvitova said. ”I played for my grandfather. I’m happy I won the tournament for him.”

Kvitova has now won 16 of 17 matches this season, and earned the WTA Newcomer of the Year award last season. Kvitova is ranked No. 14 in the new rankings that came out today.