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SPORTSMonday 21 March 2016
Djokovic, Azarenka roll to easy title wins at Indian Wells
BETH HARRIS Serena Williams, left, jokes as Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, right, poses with the trophy after a 12 break chances. “I have
AP Sports Writer to go for it,” Azarenka said.
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) — finals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Sunday, March 20, 2016, in Indian Wells, “She’s not a type of player
Novak Djokovic and Victo- that if you’re going to play
ria Azarenka rolled to easy Calif. Azarenka won, 6-4, 6-4. Associated Press safe she’s going to give
victories in the BNP Paribas it to you or she’s going to
Open on Sunday, with the tively attractive.” Williams and was never broken. 3-0 in the second set, Wil- miss. You really have to go
top-ranked Serb collecting “He’s the best returner prob- liams returned to her seat out there and take away
his record fifth title and Az- objected, saying, “Those ably of all time,” Raonic and smashed her racket. because there is nothing
arenka winning for the sec- said. Raonic was bothered Trailing 5-1, Williams won coming easy.” The crowd,
ond time to get back into remarks are very much mis- by an injury shortly after the three straight games and including Queen Latifah,
the world’s top 10. match began, although held two break points on was eager to support Wil-
Djokovic beat Milos Ra- taken and very, very, very afterward he wasn’t sure Azarenka’s serve in the last liams. One fan held up a
onic 6-2, 6-0 to improve his what was wrong. He was game. But Williams end- sign reading, “Go Serena.
match record to 22-1 this inaccurate.” Azarenka also playing his first event since ed the match with three We straight outta Comp-
year. It was the Serb’s third a thigh injury in the Austra- straight errors. “Just unex- ton,” in a nod to the gang-
consecutive title in the expressed disappointment. lian Open semis in Janu- pected nerves maybe. I infested Los Angeles sub-
California desert, breaking ary. “I don’t think it affect- definitely didn’t expect to urb where the Williams sis-
a tie with four-time cham- Djokovic and Azarenka ed my effort,” he said. “I be on that stage again,” ters learned to play tennis.
pion Roger Federer, who thought he played much said Williams, who was Williams was bidding to
lost to Djokovic the past each earned $1.02 million. better than I did.” Clearly back at Indian Wells after become the first woman
two years in the final and the crowd favorite, Williams ending her 14-year boy- to win three titles at Indian
skipped this year because Djokovic needed an hour, gave fans little to cheer cott last year. It was Aza- Wells, where she won in
of a knee injury. about on an unseasonable renka’s first victory over the 1999 and 2001. After get-
“I’m just glad to be able to 17 minutes to dispatch 91-degree (32 C) day while top-ranked Williams since ting booed heavily while
raise the level of my game making 33 unforced errors. the Cincinnati final in Au- beating Kim Clijsters for her
as the tournament pro- Raonic, whose big serve After getting broken to trail gust 2013. She will move up last title here, she vowed
gresses, and that’s some- seven spots to No. 8 in the never to return. That year
thing that I have been got broken five times. The rankings released Monday, the Williams sisters were
doing in the last two years her first time back in the supposed to meet in a
particularly on the big 25-year-old Canadian top 10 since August 2014. semifinal, but Venus with-
events,” Djokovic said. Azarenka, who won here drew shortly before the
Azarenka defeated error- served just four aces and in 2012, hit just 10 winners match with a knee injury.
prone Serena Williams 6-4, and had 20 unforced errors The crowd reacted harshly
6-4. Azarenka’s victory and had 27 unforced errors. His in the 2-hour match. She and their father Richard
Williams’ return to the final connected on 60 percent said he heard racial taunts.
for the first time since 2001, first serve averaged 128 of her first serves and broke “Obviously the last time I
when a hostile crowd trig- Williams’ serve three times. was there was probably
gered her 14-year boycott, mph — much faster than Williams converted just 1 of the worst moment of my
was overshadowed by whole career. Not prob-
comments from tourna- Djokovic’s 111 mph — but ably. Sure,” Williams said.
ment director Raymond “To be back out there,
Moore. Earlier Sunday, he he connected on only 55 which I never thought I
criticized the WTA Tour would be, was really dif-
and its players, saying they percent. The Serb landed ferent and special. I was
“ride on the coattails of overwhelmed with emo-
the men” while describing 68 percent of his first serves tions and nerves.” Williams’
the women as “physically low-key persona was in di-
attractive and competi- rect contrast to her usual
fist-pumping and screams
of “Come on!” She hit just
22 winners. Azarenka and
Williams met for the 21st
time in their careers, with
Williams owning a 17-4
edge. The only player she
has faced more in her ca-
reer is her older sister, who
watched grim-faced from
a box after losing early in
her return to Indian Wells
for the first time since 2001.
