Serena Serves Azarenka A Lesson

Although she is the world number 1, Azarenka needed an ultimate victory to confirm her status: one against Serena Williams. Her impressive recent accolades might have shifted the balance in her favour, cementing her position, but there are still voices that claim that the American, whose series of injuries and limited schedule saw her slip down the rankings, remains the best player of the world. Consequently, a clash between the two was required to set things straight. 

In the first part of the season the odds prevented the much anticipated encounter, but the two were finally given a chance to go head-to-head in the final act Madrid. Azarenka started as the slight favourite, but her losing record against Williams predicted a tough day at work for the tenacious Belorussian. And although she was inspired for most of 2012 managing to hold off some stiff opponents, she found no solution to the American's powerful display, being blown off the court since the very beginning. It was a one way passage for Serena, who claimed a compelling 6-1,6-3 victory. The match pretty much resembled their prior dispute, at last year's US Open, where Williams' serve and penetrating groundstrokes proved too much for a rather frail Belorussian.

The triumph marks Serena's second consecutive claycourt title, increasing thus her credentials as a top contestant for the French Open title. After a stunning campaign in Charleston and some convincing wins this weeks over the likes of Caroline Wozniacki, Maria Sharapova and now Azarenka, it looks like she has finally reached her top form. The American's recently established love affair with clay couldn't have come at a better moment as she has now set her sights on adding a second Roland Garros crown to her impressive resume.

Victoria on the other hand hopes to set things straight in Rome where the two are in the same half of the draw. She is surely not happy with the loss and is now desperate to collect a claycourt title before the French.

Victoria lost a second consecutive final in Madrid after succumbing last year to Czech Petra Kvitova. After a sensational start to the season, she is now titleless since Indian Wells. She will look to change this in Rome, her last chance before the French Open.

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