Victoria Azarenka Defeats Serena Williams To Win 2013 Western & Southern Open

Victoria Azarenka (click to enlarge)

It didn’t look good early for Victoria Azarenka in the final of the 2013 Western & Southern Open against Serena Williams. Serena can sometimes look a bit vulnerable or unfocused early in tournaments only to raise the level of her game in semis and finals, blowing out big name opponents. That’s what appeared to be happening as Williams rolled in the first set 6-2. But Vika quickly found her footing, and more importantly her consistency, turning the tables in the second set and emerging victorious in a tough third set tiebreak. With the 2-6 6-2 7-6 (6) win, Azarenka earns her second victory over Serena this year, the first was in Doha, making the upcoming US Open far from just being a Serena coronation. Serena is still the favorite in Flushing Meadow, but Vika is a real threat. Speaking of the US Open, despite losing this tournament Serena still won the Emirates Airline US Open Series points title this summer. That makes her eligible for a $1 million bonus if she wins the US Open. Should she take the title at the final Major of the season, she would win $3.6 million. That would be the largest single tournament payout in tennis history.