Azarenka falls to Williams in WTA finale

Serena Williams beat world number one Victoria Azarenka of Belarus 6-4, 6-4 to reach the semifinals at the WTA end-of-season tournament.

The American owns an 11-1 record in their career head-to-heads. This win was Serena Williams’ third at the tournament who has secured a spot in the semifinals from the top in the round robin Red Group.

On 26 October Victoria Azarenka will play China’s Li Na (World No.8). The winner of the match will reach the last four.

The first to reach the semifinals from the White Group was Russian Maria Sharapova (World No.2) who recorded two wins over Italy’s Sara Errani (World No.7) 6-3, 6-2 and Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska (World No.4) 5-7, 7-5, 7-5.

This is the fourth time Victoria Azarenka takes part in the season-ending tournament. So far her best result was the final in 2011 where she lost to Petra Kvitova. Victoria Azarenka has won six WTA tournaments (Sydney, Australian Open, Indian Wells, Doha, Beijing, Linz) this season and a total of 14 titles over her career. After the victory in Melbourne Azarenka rose to world No.1. This year the 23-year-old from Minsk became the Olympic champion in the mixed doubles (partnering with Max Mirnyi) and won the bronze medal in the singles in London 2012. Victoria needs only two wins at the WTA Championships to become the year-end world No. 1 for the first time.

Two players from each group at the round-robin stage will advance to the semis. The final will take place on Sunday, 28 October.