Australian Open 2013: Victoria Azarenka's Win Puts Her Among Elite Women Ever
Victoria Azarenka is the woman's champion at the Australian Open 2013 and this incredible win puts her among the elite women to ever play.
Azarenka beat Li Na by a score of 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 to take her second Australian Open title in as many years.
The match was quite grueling, and Azarenka was relieved afterwards. Per the Associated Press (via ESPN):
""It isn't easy, that's for sure, but I knew what I had to do," the 23-year-old Belarusian said. "I had to stay calm. I had to stay positive. I just had to deal with the things that came onto me."
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She persevered and was able to take the match and the tournament.
This is nothing new for Azarenka. The 23-year-old Belarusian has been winning her whole life.
She already has 357 career wins and 15 career titles.
She's reached the finals of the US Open and has twice reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon.
Azarenka also has a bronze medal to her name from the 2012 London Olympics.
The No. 1 player in the world has already proven to be one of the best women tennis players of her generation. That's clear.
But her performance has put her among the elite women ever.
At only 23, she's already beaten Maria Sharapova five time in title matches.
She'll also have the chance next year to become only the sixth woman to win the Australian Open three times in a row.
If she does that, she'll join players like Steffi Graf and Monica Seles who hold that honor.
But even if she doesn't, Azarenka is already among the best. She's a winner and has so many more years of great tennis left in her.
This title has cemented her legacy as one of the best players in this generation and puts her among the elite to every play the game.
