News & Events in Belarus
Azarenka upsets Williams to claim her second Indian Wells title
MINSK, 21 March (BelTA) – Belarus’ number one Victoria Azarenka clinched her second BNP Paribas Open title in Indian Wells after earning a 6-4, 6-4 win over world number one Serena Williams of the United States on 20 March, BelTA has learned.
The Belarusian showed composure and held her nerve to take her 19th WTA Tour title, which means she will be back in the top 10 of the world rankings on Monday.
Victoria Azarenka beat Serena Williams only three times in their previous 20 on-court meetings. The winner of the Indian Wells tournament earned $1 million and 1,000 points. This will take Victoria Azarenka back into the WTA top ten for the first time since summer 2014. Now the Belarusian is 8th with the total of 3,595 points.
It is the second triumph at the Indian Wells courts for the 26-year-old Belarusian. Victoria Azarenka earned her first title in 2012 defeating Maria Sharapova of Russia 6-2, 6-3 in 2012. This season the Belarusian also won the Brisbane International in Australia.
Lukashenko congratulates Azarenka on Indian Wells title
Belarus President, President of the National Olympic Committee Alexander Lukashenko has sent greetings to member of Belarus’ national tennis team Victoria Azarenka to congratulate her on the BNP Paribas Open title, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian leader.
“The whole country, millions of your fans watched anxiously the extremely hard and emotional final match of the tournament in Indian Wells between the world’s two strongest tennis players,” the message of greetings reads.
The head of state thanked Victoria Azarenka for holding out, for displaying the best features of the Belarusian nation character. “This is a logical result of perseverance and hard work which helped you return to the summit of world tennis,” the President remarked.
Alexander Lukashenko sincerely wished Victoria Azarenka and her team health, luck and new scintillating victories.
print version
make home page
add to bookmarks
