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Australian Open: Day 13

Dawn.com Published January 26, 2013
Belarus's Victoria Azarenka (L) poses with former champion Margaret Court (C) and runner-up Li Na of China (R). -Photo by AFP
Belarus's Victoria Azarenka (L) poses with former champion Margaret Court (C) and runner-up Li Na of China (R). -Photo by AFP
Victoria Azarenka overcome an often hostile crowd to win back-to-back Australian Open titles, beating Li Na 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in a dramatic final on Saturday that contained a break for fireworks, two medical timeouts and a nasty fall that caused Li to black out momentarily. -Photo by AFP
Victoria Azarenka overcome an often hostile crowd to win back-to-back Australian Open titles, beating Li Na 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in a dramatic final on Saturday that contained a break for fireworks, two medical timeouts and a nasty fall that caused Li to black out momentarily. -Photo by AFP
Azarenka, who broke down in tears and sobbed into her towel when the match ended, claimed her second major title and retained the No. 1 ranking. -Photo by AFP
Azarenka, who broke down in tears and sobbed into her towel when the match ended, claimed her second major title and retained the No. 1 ranking. -Photo by AFP
?This one is way more emotional (than last year). It's going to be extra special for me, for sure,? Azarenka said after the match. -Photo by AP
?This one is way more emotional (than last year). It's going to be extra special for me, for sure,? Azarenka said after the match. -Photo by AP
Azarenka poses with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup. -Photo by Reuters
Azarenka poses with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup. -Photo by Reuters
On a crisp, cool night, Azarenka won the coin toss and elected to receive, a ploy that seemed to work when a nervous Li was broken to start the match. After a double fault on the first point, Li's forehand long gave Azarenka the early lead. -Photo by Reuters
On a crisp, cool night, Azarenka won the coin toss and elected to receive, a ploy that seemed to work when a nervous Li was broken to start the match. After a double fault on the first point, Li's forehand long gave Azarenka the early lead. -Photo by Reuters
Former French Open champion Li had been roared on to court like a local hopeful and every point she won was greeted with huge applause, even on the many occasions that it derived from a Azarenka error. -Photo by AFP
Former French Open champion Li had been roared on to court like a local hopeful and every point she won was greeted with huge applause, even on the many occasions that it derived from a Azarenka error. -Photo by AFP
On the first point after a 10-minute pause in the third set while fireworks crackled overhead from nearby Australia Day celebrations, the Chinese player fell over again and slammed the back of her head into the court. -Photo by AFP
On the first point after a 10-minute pause in the third set while fireworks crackled overhead from nearby Australia Day celebrations, the Chinese player fell over again and slammed the back of her head into the court. -Photo by AFP
The 2011 French Open champion was treated immediately by a tournament doctor and had another time out before being allowed to resume the match. The second incident didn't appear to affect Li's movement, but she later said it was a serious fall. -Photo by AP
The 2011 French Open champion was treated immediately by a tournament doctor and had another time out before being allowed to resume the match. The second incident didn't appear to affect Li's movement, but she later said it was a serious fall. -Photo by AP
Li first tumbled to the court after twisting her left ankle, and had it taped after falling in the fifth game of the second set. -Photo by AP
Li first tumbled to the court after twisting her left ankle, and had it taped after falling in the fifth game of the second set. -Photo by AP

Victoria Azarenka kept her eye firmly on the prize despite a host of distractions to rally from a set down and retain her title with victory over Li Na in a dramatic Australian Open final on Saturday. The Belarussian had to block out an often blatantly hostile crowd, sit through two lengthy timeouts for Li's injuries and bide her time as a firework display lit up Melbourne's skyline before she finally extinguished her Chinese rival's hopes with a 4-6 6-4 6-3 victory.

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