Azarenka Slams Sharapova For Beijing Title, Extends No. 1 Lead

Victoria Azarenka continued her impressive 2012 season winning her fifth title of the season with a resounding 6-3, 6-1 victory over rival Maria Sharapova to win Beijing.

“I was doing the right things, making sure I didn’t let Maria play the game she likes, always being in control and dominating,” Azarenka said after the 87 minute win, her 13th career title. “Of course it wasn’t possible for me to do that every single point, but for the most part I was trying to keep up with her rhythm, and when I had the chance just try to step it up and be in control myself. I tried to take that opportunity and move forward.

Azarenka’s win also extends her lead over No. 2 Sharapova in the race for the year-end WTA top ranking by roughly 800 points.

“I have two more tournaments to play, about 10 more matches,” Azarenka said. “I’m looking forward to maximizing the potential in all of them. I’m really happy that in the end of the year I still have that determination I had in the beginning of the year, that desire to go out there and show my best tennis and win.”

The Belarussian is also 7-4 lifetime against Sharapova, including key wins this year in the Australian Open final and the US Open semifinals.

“Victoria played a really good match – she just did many things much better than I did,” Sharapova said. “I felt like when I had the chance, in situations where I had opportunities to get back in the set or in the match, I was just making errors. They were little windows, but as small as they were, I just didn’t take them. Against somebody who is No.1 in the world, you can’t do that.”

While Azarenka heads to Linz, Sharapova will be idle until the WTA Championships at the end of the month.