Issue link: http://itf.uberflip.com/i/117483
Maria Sharapova looked in sizzling form until she came up against Li Laura Robson upset Petra Kvitova in the second round 26 ITFWORLD SPRING 2013 Even Azarenka���s critics could not deny that she was a totally disciplined, worthy winner. The world No. 1 handled all with steely professionalism: the furnace-to-fridge conditions, the interruptions to play (retreating to the locker room during the fireworks while Li sat out in the cold conditions), the one-sided crowd, the early running of her opponent, not to mention the defence of her crown and the No. 1 ranking. The tension of the past two weeks told as the 23-year-old���s game-face dissolved into tears of relief. Azarenka was expected to go through former No. 1s Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova in order to defend her maiden Slam; shockingly, she faced neither. Newcomer Stephens, at No. 29, was the only seed she met before the final. No. 2 seed Sharapova barrelled into the semis for the loss of nine games ��� an Australian Open record. But Maria was right to be wary: ���It���s not the stat you���re after.��� On a hot semifinal day, she ran into a hotter Li Na, who played the match of her life to win 62 62. With new coach Carlos Rodriguez in tow, Li displayed more shape and snap on her forehand, recalling the winning style of Carlos���s former charge Justine Henin. Li had doused another impressive hot streak, Agnieszka Radwanska���s 13-0 start to the year, 75 63 in the quarters. Five-time champion Williams, shortest-priced favourite in Australian Open history, was a wounded 36 75 64 loser to Stephens in the sensation of the tournament. A locked back late in the second set added to Serena���s physical woes: she went over on an ankle in her first match. ���I���m almost relieved that it���s over,��� Serena admitted of the most painful Grand Slam of her career. She later tweeted a picture of her grotesquely swollen ankle. It could have been mistaken for an Aussie rules football. If it was a travesty that injury clouded this generational match ��� Serena���s first-ever loss to a younger American ��� there���s no doubt that Sloane Stephens has arrived as another telegenic star of women���s tennis. The 19-year-old delivered on the promise she showed in her quarterfinal with Serena in Brisbane. She deceives with a languid power and pops with star presence. Stephens was one of several super-athletic young Americans to serve notice. Wildcard Madison Keys, not yet 18, menaced with monster serving to reach the third round, as did Jamie Hampton, the only player to take a set from Azarenka before the final. British rising star Laura Robson also continued to impress. For the second straight major, the 19-year-old took down a Grand Slam champion, this time No. 8 seed Petra Kvitova in a rollicking 26 63 119 battle between lefty shotmakers. Stephens then put out Robson 75 63 in a clash of the starlets ��� a tantalising glimpse of future Grand Slam rivals. As in the singles, the top seeds triumphed in the doubles. Bob and Mike Bryan amassed a record 13th major, surpassing Aussie legends John Newcombe and Tony Roche, with their sixth win in Melbourne. They defeated unseeded Dutchmen Robin Haase and Igor