28/01/2012 Australian Open Tennis

Good morning. The papers will scream about the heroics of Andy

Murray yesterday but the bare facts remain that for the 4th Grand Slam

in a row, Britain's number one came off second best in a semi-final.

But the difference was yesterday But the difference was yesterday

that he might have, could have, should have won it. It was the most

pulsating of games for of sensational tennis, and after four

hours and 50 minutes, at this volley from the world No. 1 at

Novak Djokovic was just too good and he was through to the final

against Rafa Nadal. What a fantastic game that promises to be.

fantastic game that promises to be. For all the disappointment, Andy

Murray knows that bit by bit, he is getting closer to the summit.

some stage during last year, there was a significant gap between me

and Djokovic, he said the bar so high last year and I have been

working as hard as I could to try and close that, and that is the

main thing I take away from tonight, but it has taken a great

performance from him, he was so dominant last year, to get by me.

So I am happy with that. That is doubtless the question he has been

asking himself all day, and will continue to ask until Roland Garros

today and it is a question for John Lloyd. The answer is? I think he is

going to do it. I was doubting it and little bit. In the last year or

so, I thought mentally he had dropped and had not achieved what

the other three had and was lacking in that department but I think the

Lendl signing, it is evident already the difference he has made.

He is gunning for them and I think he will win a Grand Slam by next

year, but it wouldn't surprise me if it was this year. That question,

what does he have to do? Not much. He came that close yesterday to

being the best player on the planet by a long way and his dead Djokovic

big time and I think he is only going to get better. -- he scared.

The French will be tough but I think he has a great shock at

Wimbledon. As far as the match today is concerned, there is much

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more at stake than just winning the So who will be the champion and he

will be the world No. 1 at the end of this? They are currently ranked

third and 4th behind Caroline Wozniacki and Kvitova, but there

are so many ranking points at stake today, whoever is Victorias will be

number one. What those occasional tennis followers -- for those

occasional talent -- tennis followers, the way Sharapova has

scaled the so that again, with all of her interest and her beauty,

that she may have done something else, the fact that she has the

resilience to get back to where she is now it is extraordinary. It is,

and I think she is the greatest woman's competitor out there. There

is nobody who wants to win as much as she does. The interest she has,

the money she has made, she could have gone away but she just wants

to win more and more and she is back where she belongs. And she is

up against somebody who, by her own admission that I gather it have

press conference yesterday, was all about the number of times she has

thrown away at leads in matches. Do you think Azarenka is now a much

more mature player that she was 18 months ago? There is no question

about that, she has been impressed conferences going on about how she

is not going to freeze this time and she has to say that, and I hope

she doesn't. She is confronting it, at least. But we have seen so long

Raval, she didn't play well as an example. That Veronica Zvonareva. I

hope she goes forehead. I am not sure how she well react today, hope

she plays the way she can. What is your take on Australia generally,

there have been some fantastic three-set games. Whoever wins today

will be number one and they will win a Grand Slam, with Caroline

Wozniacki we have had the controversy, for her to be No. 1

when she hasn't won a Grand Slam was ridiculous, so this will sort

out who is the genuine No. 1 in the world. Seriously colourful, it is

going to be, and that is a sensational yellow hooded jacket.

She looks like a box about to walk into the ring. Talking about boxing

and the noise, the grunting, inevitably, sadly, this match will

be overshadowed as far as the media is concerned by the noise on court,

because they are both in the bar -- top of two of the world's grunters.

Is there anything that can be done? Not right now. Monica Seles started

this and they should have stopped it then, but they didn't. The next

generation are already talking about going to coaching academies

and saying it will not be allowed, it has to be toned down. The only

good thing about today is they both do it as well as each other. Nobody

is trying to get an advantage over the other, but it has to be stopped.

The noise between the two is going to be incredible. That is a real

game face that Sharapova has got on. There is nothing remotely original.

Peter Fleming has said there should be a line drawn in the sand, 21st

January, 1920 17, give everybody the chance to get it out of their

system. -- 2017. Can they do something as draconian as that.

When you are taught to play tennis, and you pick up a racket for the

first time, you don't make that noise, it is taught, it is coach,

and they have to change it. -- coach. We are waiting for the

announcement of Maria Sharapova on to court. Here she comes. That is a

serious Bucquet of flowers. I wonder what happens to said

afterwards. -- happens to read. The way she is a strutting it, it is

like you are watching Amir Khan! This could be a really good game.

I'm looking forward to it. It could be fantastic. And getting cash

going slighted for Sharapova, but it is a pick and match. Kvitova was

the one everyone thought was going to win and she didn't, and I am

looking forward to this. somebody who is in a position that

as Azarenka is the day when you are almost there but not quite, how

important are the people around you, your coach, your family and your

friends, in getting that last sups on of self-belief that could get

you over the finish line, like that the Williams sisters, people who

have been there many times before? Azarenka doesn't have anyone he had

campaign has been there and done it before, but head coach will have

instilled that. She is rocking out, trying to keep away from the nerds.

It is tough to do that, your first Grand Slam, it is very rare not to

be nervous that keep away from the nervous. She is against Sharapova,

the greatest competitor in the women's game. Hey you start will be

key. Big time, I hope she goes out there and opens up her shoulders

and has fun out there. It is easier said than done. I hope she well,

but I am not convinced. I think Sharapova or is definitely the

favourite -- hope she will. The tea is the boxing analogy, Sharapova's

de Mai nap, -- demeanour, she is so intimidating, that you have to be

very strong within to withstand bad. That is the presents she brings.

Sharapova has her demons as well that presents. If she serves well,

and get a lot of first serves in and said so bad first strike, then

I think she will win this title, -- sets up that first strike.

Sharapova or's big weakness is have would work, her speed around the

court. If she gets into big rallies, Sharapova or is the best there is,

she will be in trouble -- for Sharapova's big weakness is have

would work. If you were Azarenka and won the toss, were due serve or

received, give yourself again to get into things that would you?

don't think it is an edited if you do that. -- a negative if you do

that. Sometimes, you are a bit tight at the start, and you can

give away the first game to get the adrenalin going then get rid of

your nerves. They are not grunting her during the warm-up. There you

go. Andrew Castle is going to be describing this, good morning.

ANDREW CASTLE: Good morning it, how are you?

JOHN INVERDALE: Good morning. John has been describing it that they

could be a nagging fear at for Azarenka today.

ANDREW CASTLE: The Sharapova camp try not to give that much respect

to the player at the other end, they try and impose. I think

Azarenka has more flexibility in that regard than Sharapova does. If

there is a possible nightmare out there, I had given experience, it

might come from Sharapova, but this lady in your picture is no novice

at number three. I once asked how at the World Championships in Paris,

when she was the world junior champion from the year before, when

you think you will make any impact on the senior game, what you

expect? And she said, to start winning straight away. She is full

of confidence, always has been. I just hope she gets her best out

here today, because she is an exciting player.

JOHN INVERDALE: I in -- interviewed have at Eastbourne, she is very

charming. ANDREW CASTLE: She is very bright,

followed social... She is a typical 22-year-old, having a really good

tired and not afraid to show it. If you follow her on Twitter, you can

find out a great deal about her, she does not have many secrets.

Very Americanised, she went to Scottsdale when she was young. I

think the last time we had someone from Belarus in the final was in

1988 against Steffi Graf and she didn't win a game of. We should

hopefully see an improvement on that.

The JOHN INVERDALE: For all of our sakes, let's hope that doesn't

sakes, let's hope that doesn't happen. She was saying on Twitter

what music she will be listening to what she would be in her chair as

she went out to have had photos taken. So where is this match going

to be won and lost, John? I think the nerds will come into it, but

what Andrew Castle said, Azarenka has more flexibility -- been there

this will come into it. If Sharapova gets the first strike in,

and she will be tough to beat. If she gets the wobbles, Azarenka may

take advantage. Sharapova is 24, you feel like she is older because

she has been at the top for so long, and when you look at their Grand

Slam record, you realise she has got to a lot of major finals, she

has been runner-up on several occasions and has won three of the

Grand Slams. You tend to fill the Williams sisters have been so

dominant but Sharapova's record has been great -- you feel. I think she

is the greatest competitor in the game and I think with the injuries

she has had, she has had an amazing career. She regards this as a bonus,

if you listen to how press conferences. I don't think she

expected to be here quite does so with all of the injuries she has

had and I think she has almost amazed herself. She is talking

about another five years or so are playing at the top of the game. You

felt she might be the player like Anna Kournikova, who might have

drifted off into other aspects of life. You get a lot of players who

are in their early twenties and think there is no chance they will

be playing at 30 years old. But when they actually get them to it,

they love playing. You can't compare anything when getting up in

the morning and going out training and playing. They have done this

set they had been eight years old and it is tough to do anything else

-- since they have been. They love to compete, and Sharapova is the

That was quite the game against Kvitova. Sharapova just took her

round and played brilliant stuff. She hasn't played this year, she

was injured at the start of the season and to get to the final is

so impressive. And Azarenka, again, an easy run through at the

beginning bad but that if there is any consolation to Heather Watson,

who was very upset that she didn't get a game in the first round, at

least she lost emphatically 2 perhaps the potential winner.

And coming up through against Kim Clijsters, at her was the crowd

favourite. That was psychologically great come through that match.

great come through that match. can see it is 30 degrees, which is

just marginally warmer than it is here this morning and this life is

-- this guy is slightly more blue than outside the studio here. So

for you? Marginally, Sharapova. for you? Marginally, Sharapova.

Andrew? ANDREW CASTLE: I think Azarenka

might play a good match and come through in straight sets. I only

said that because John went the other way.

JOHN INVERDALE: The last time they played, Sharapova had to retire. In

the same way as Djokovic against Andy Murray before yesterday's

match. I am being told that Azarenka or, she did say on Twitter

what she was going to be listening to and she was listening to

something called... Loose Control by -- lose control. You have it and

I will play it! John is going to go and join Andrew in the commentary

booth for hopefully a good couple get down with their kit, you have

to know these things. We hope it will be a fine tennis match -- with

their kids. I don't know if we can expect something like yesterday's

bat but we will certainly see some nerves on display and some

tremendous shot-making. And the big question here is who will settle

first and who will find their best game. Tomorrow, you can see the

men's final, Djokovic and Nadal, the two top players in the world.

Can Djokovic recover from that semi-final to produce his best

But today is women's final day and one of the most lucratively endorse

the athlete in the world, Sharapova, looking to win a 4th Grand Slam.

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Acer culling 0.4 the 22-year-old. - - a settling of point. If anything,

she hits the ball harder than Sharapova from the back of the

Bat is a big double fault. Just the third point of the match -- that is.

And a long way out, so she has a bit of a battle on just to settle

into the match. Serve is probably not going to be that much of a

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Here is a chance for Sharapova to strike a blow, right here. And if

she has a chance to get that first hit in an attack the serve, you

That is an important point for Azarenka. A deep, firm's second

serve at the end of a game where she has double faulted -- firm. If

you get Sharapova on the ropes, John Lloyd was saying, you are

favourites to win the point. JOHN LLOYD: That second serve was

key. When she threw the ball up, I Great depth from Sharapova.

first Russian No. 1, she was. Several times at number one, first

in 2005 and then in 2008. A real tribal -- trailblazer for that

No. And Sharapova has the start she wanted. Victoria Azarenka, who will

have been thinking about this final for a couple of days, it is not the

start she wanted to make. It is not what she imagined happening. It was

a nervous start and you sort of expected it, perhaps. This is a big

game now for Sharapova now she has the added break. We have seen in

the past that she can get the wobbles on the serve as well --

early break. It is important that she has a good first service game.

She has remodelled her serve under the tutelage of Michael Joyce after

such -- a shoulder surgery and she really was unsure whether her

shoulder would come out. She didn't know whether the muscles around the

shoulder would support the service motion. So she had to remodel it

and it has never looked quite the force it was when she first came

out on tour and one would bothered in 2004. -- of one Wimbledon. It

Just going for too much at the moment, Azarenka. Still tied and

just trying to force the issue a little bit. -- tight. It is easy to

say you should relax but somehow she has got to do that. You can see

the way she opened up too soon on That is good tennis. A very good. -

- very good. Like a sledgehammer forehand there. It has always been

the case, everybody in the game said the same thing about Azarenka,

that if she could add a little bit of Defence and a change of pace

every now and again. Only marginal, every now and again from a high

ball in with some top spinner, she would be an even better player, and

That second serve, it is very flat and that is where sometimes she

does get in trouble and has no this point, but you can see the height

of the ball is coming up. -- nervous points. But it is up to

shoulder height, it is amazing the pace she gets on to that serve.

is 6 ft 2, statuesque, and uses that full height on the serve. It

is when it drops low she gets in Battered too much at this stage of

the game. That is the time to throw them in. -- the back went matter

too much. -- that won't matter too That was a coach on the lead.

her hitting partner. -- left. I am sure he is very diplomatic in the

Could be a challenge. UMPIRE: Miss Sharapova is

challenging the call. The ball was The ball was good, they play a let.

The players get three challenges in a set and if the challenge has

proven to be correct, they maintain that challenge. If they are wrong,

they lose 1. Yesterday, it was a feature of the match. It was very

much a feature of Sharapova's victory over Kvitova as well, at 4-

I know it is stating the obvious, but this is a huge game right now

for Azarenka. She has got to establish herself. She doesn't want

to go down two breaks. Seeing that trophy, seeing what you are playing

for. A reminder of beyond and the place in tennis history that is on

She has come out to play today, Sharapova. She is looking immense

at the moment with the ground strokes. That was good movement as

well, because it was a touchback hand. She gets herself back at the

point. That is not going to do the What I was saying about the 1988

French Open final, losing to South -- Steffi Graf love and love.

was painful. The last player from Belarus in the final of a slam.

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This is two-the love... I am not These are three very important

points that Victoria Azarenka has just one. Sharapova will always

look to attack the second serve. You should watch her in practice,

if you get a chance. The extraordinary intensity she brings

to have the thing, but the returns She has got some fire to her, this

one. She has no on the board. one. She has no on the board.

She needed that one so badly, it was getting a little doubtful. She

got that second survey in, Sharapova missed the big forehand,

that was a huge point. She wants to intimidate. If you miss your first

serve, I am coming after you on the second. That puts a doubt but in

the opponent's mind. That was a huge game for hard to win.

huge game for hard to win. It really was, and there was

excellent defence and that previous rally, as well. Well done to her.

She has been in Grand Slam finals before, just not in singles. She

was the Mixed Doubles champion with her countryman. Then in 2008, with

Bob Bryan, she won the French Open. She won a couple of next titles,

three times runner-up in doubles. She has already had a tremendous

output at the Grand Slam level, but the final singles match must be

very different. She would be a great Mixed Doubles partner. John,

I wonder how much they paid for that short? -- shot? I can think of

a clothing company that would be quite happy this final is between

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who it is. They have not been slow This is good stuff, now. That shows

how big that game was at 2-1 down. She is engaged in the match now,

that was an excellent return of serve. That set up to point, then

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she just steps in, beautiful Sharapova challenges on the left

baseline. They says more about hope, really.

-- this says more about hope. The game has gone with the challenge.

Azarenka has settled down, and seems, perhaps temporarily, to have

forgotten this is a Grand Slam final and remembered it is just a

tennis match against someone down the other end and that was an

Marshalling the ball boys and girls at tea and of the court, there. --

at the end of the cord. All fired up, the competitive Azarenka --

fire from Azarenka is having an effect on Sharapova. The backhand

there, just getting Sharapova on the run. That was beautiful, she

hit the half volley. Great timing Had a feeling she would change the

direction of the serve there. If you're going to serve to

Sharapova's backhand, you can spirit all the time. If it becomes

predictable she will pick you off. Changed up is very important in

terms of direction, perhaps, speed, It did not look inevitable that at

-- Azarenka would settle into this, but she has won 11 matches in a row.

She had some great wins in Sydney, as well. She is confident, she has

played a lot of matches, six of them here, but this is impressive.

them here, but this is impressive. You have to give her a lot of

credit, because there is nothing like a Grand Slam final, 2-0, 0-30,

serve very shaky, and to have steadied her opponent and got back

into the game through good play, not through her opponent missing.

Now she is playing lovely stuff, she has got rhythm when going on

the ground strokes, impressive from 2-0 down, very impressive. It is

easy to panic. It is not like the men's final, it can go very quick,

said pro-can go in the blink of an eye. -- saids. Playing for the

world number one ranking, that became inevitable when Kim

Clijsters beat Caroline Wozniacki. The top ranking is on the line for

the winner of this memorial trophy. If you don't win a Grand Slam, you

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should not really the world number That was a big return in combat

Azarenka sending out a message here, the Serbs are coming back, she is

getting them into good positions, putting Sharapova under pressure of

the first return. She is the favourite to win a lot of these

I am surprised she did not go for a He knows where Victoria Azarenka's

eyes are going straight away after a point like that, the close

Watching an Azarenka practice session can be quite frightening.

The sheer pace she hits the ball at, it is all so different than 15-20

years ago. They're hitting the ball There have been some close calls on

A hot evening, 85 degrees or more, it will probably come down two or

three degrees, but nor wind gets into this Rod Laver Arena, which

holds 15,000 Hot People. There is no breeze on the court, at all.

That was the ball she could have made, but she just got caught this

up excellent from Azarenka. On the backhand side she was defending so

well, then she got the ball she should have fancied. It is so quick.

Kicking the ball back from all positions. A couple of shots there

were like Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. Some of the shots from the

men's game yesterday were The worrying thing from Sharapova's

side, she is not getting many cheap points on the first serve. In

general Azarenka seems to be That was a let. Nothing from the

chair. Hold on... We had this yesterday with Novak Djokovic.

Strange, isn't it? That felt like a Let to me, as well. By he added.

That ball was good. She got two she'd points,

completely contradicting what I just said. -- cheat points. Those

were basically two Line service. That certainly was right on the

line. Rod Laver, The 50th anniversary of his first Australian

triumph and a Grand Slam, Great shot, I can think of a more

modest champion than him. He talks about a couple local tournaments in

the park. He is so modest about his achievement, an amazing man.

Twice winner of the Grand Slam, all four major championships in the

same year. And there is the Find exchange. Sharapova tried to

change the angle and hit the cross- court off pace. It did not work,

Azarenka is too quick, but it easily. She tried to change it up,

get the angle, it did not work and The tennis has gone up a level, and

so have the rather appears in acoustics as well from both players,

as the intensity increases. -- the -- acoustics. They once measured

Victoria Azarenka for five decibels and it lasted for 1.2 seconds, the

An important moment. Through the serve, into the body, made sure she

got the first one in. Excellent match play. She did not want to be

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serving a second serve, so that his Undoubtedly it would have been a

tactic they would talk about. Whether she could ever bring it

into play in the match, but they would have gone into every detail.

The coach-player relationship, they have known each other for two years

now. They would have talked about a point just like that, perfectly

constructed. Getting that a first seven at 30-30 was key. This one,

to change the pace up with a variety, the drop shot, not easy

against Sharapova because of the pace of the ball coming against you.

On that one, she was inside the baseline when she hit that cross-

shot. Sharapova had no idea it was coming, and when she get into the

net she is not very comfortable. She had plenty of time to direct

the lob. A very well executed last couple of points.

She is only 22, but this is a 25th major championship. She did not

mess about with university or anything like that, they go out

young, and it is not an easy adjustment for the young women to

quote and travel the world, I think it is more difficult for the young

women compared to the young men. Although they are stronger, younger,

more physically developed, but it must be so demanding to learn on

the road about things and to be away from home. Both of these women

have known what it was like to have separation from parents, to

sacrifice their only. -- to sacrifice their way. It has made

Maria Sharapova did not see her mother for two years. When she was

just nine years old she went to -- went with her father to the academy

in Florida. At the age of 14 she left Minsk and went to Scottsdale,

A bigger second serve. It is so flat.

There is no cake on it whatsoever, so there is not much control of the

depth. The height over the net is probably only two or three inches,

as well. Her coach is up there they will be saying, first served in,

Fabulous. Very good change up to go behind Azarenka. Good game from

Sharapova. Did look like Azarenka was going to win that point, but a

beautiful change up, wrong-footed Azarenka, she was not expecting

that one. If she had taken one step less she might have been able to

recover. Look at how she keeps the racket straight up, a little

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That is a big one. Addis two in this game. -- that is.

That was outbid by a long way. It is out of control, it does not

look in sync entirely. That was just a kick serve, a basic for

everyone is to throw a kick Serevent on the second serve. A

professional would expect to make it 100% of the time. Not many women

UMPIRE:, Sharapova calls on the second serve. The ball was called

out. A little desperate, wasn't it?

Challenge, because I don't want to Azarenka on the prowl, helped by a

couple of double faults from Sharapova in this game. Hasn't she

settled after a 2-0 down? She is That is a wonderful forehand! Short

ball with no pace on it. She just got enough of the racket around the

outside edge of the ball to take it away from her opponents. Well done.

This was huge, and it was awkward looking, she had to move up to that.

You can see the extra spin she got We talk about her endorsements, and

it was rumoured she had made a contract with a clothing company

for $65 million, �55 million, but it is more than just the look. It

is the way she fights and goes Yes! Sharapova's defence was strong.

How comfortable does this young player look at the net? She looks

fabulous of there, as well. That was a left-handed forehand from

Chapel Bar, she was a really under Brilliant, set up by that wonderful

return of serve again. She has hit back some of Sharapova's best

serves in this game. Anticipating them very well, you can see the

depth on that return. Not afraid to come to the net, that is for sure.

A conventional volley on the previous point, this one is the

This willingness to experiment with This willingness to experiment with

the ball and probe the short ball air and the ability to do it as

well. -- Afro the short ball in. It marks her out clearly, along with

Kvitova, they are expected to be the big names going forward. I just

wondered if this quarter the exact middle, but it was absolutely fine

with an open court -- if this Azarenka has won five of the last

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Look at this shot here. Sharapova's response to any kind of threat on

the tennis court is to hit harder She came on court with a swagger,

didn't she, Azarenka? And a hooded And she has the swagger now. One

set up Ed have first Grand Slam final. -- In her first. I wonder

final. -- In her first. I wonder what Sharapova can do to repel the

JOHN INVERDALE: It seems, are watching this in the studio, 10

minutes or so into the game, there was a horror thought that when

Azarenka or ballooned her second serve while longer, we would be

into a Natascha Zvereva Situation, but the way she has got into the

first set and asserted herself is hugely impressive.

JOHN LLOYD: We might not be talking about what we are talking about now,

the first set to Azarenka, if she had lost that game to go down to a

double break. She got that came back, Sharapova missed a big return

of serve which was crucial, but since then she has soaked up the

pressure and the worrying thing for Sharapova or is that the winners

are the same that she is making double the unforced errors and she

is not finding a way through. Azarenka is counter-punching

brilliantly and getting Sharapova on the move. Even though

Sharapova's mind is incredible and she is not going to back away, the

variety there, it is difficult to see how she is going to get back

into this match because she doesn't seem to be able to find a way to

get Azarenka off the court. The movement from Azarenka is brilliant.

We spoke before the match about how Sharapova intimidate her opponent

but Azarenka is not intimidated. -- intimidates.

ANDREW CASTLE: She has the belief to go out about -- against anybody.

You have to remember she is number three in the world. She was a semi-

finalist at Wimbledon last year and she has been climbing through the

rankings. She is no novice, this girl. She belongs at the very top

level. It looks like she believes level. It looks like she believes

it, doesn't it? JOHN INVERDALE: That is the key

factor. What the Sharapova needed in this second set, John? She only

plays one way, she is not going to change that up. She just needs to

be a bit more precise and accurate with they serve a, and the ground

with they serve a, and the ground strokes, pick the right balls to

attack. She just has to keep on trying to intimidate her opponent

and believe that she can win, which The thing about Sharapova as we

said earlier on, of what she does is brilliant but she is a bit one-

dimensional. She doesn't change the pace, she has not got much of a

slice, no real drop shot, so I don't think there is much she can

do in terms of changing the game. She just has to cut down on the

Erez she made in the first set and keep that first serve percentage as

That has been a rarity, an exchange from the back of the court. I don't

care if you saw that graphic, but Sharapova is only winning one in

five of the. Played from the baseline. Bear in mind that most of

them are paid from the baseline -- of the points. Azarenka is

perfectly happy to trade from the back of the court with Sharapova.

She has got to try and win these rallies earlier than she has been.

The first serve, she got into a good position, there was the big

forehand and she got into the right position. But you can't miss a

Obviously, the tendency when this sort of thing happens and you are

not finding the easy winners, you start to over strike the ball, and

that is what Sharapova is doing. She is going for too much but she

has no choice, really. She has got She picked the side, Azarenka,

She picked the side, Azarenka, moved into the court and took a day

early. Sharapova will be so disappointed, another gay have gone,

it is a break of serve. -- another game gone. It has been complete

game gone. It has been complete dominance from 2-0 down. That was

quite a high ball, so she wouldn't have noticed where Azarenka was.

She picked a side, went for it and that goes to show how focused

Azarenka it is at the moment, We'll see what happens if the

winning line looms. At the moment, that is the only way to look at it.

You know that Sharapova will be disappointed, she will be the stare

their way she looks at the opponent and says "I am still coming after

you". -- she will stare at her opponent. But Azarenka totally

It has been overruled. By the vicar, had nickname on the tour. It was

overruled from the chair. -- her nickname. It was called out. No, it

was called in, overruled from the chair. And challenged at the second

That was why does well. Back wide as well. It is supposed to be an

instant challenge, but it is a bit of a grey area.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds

UMPIRE: Miss Azarenka has a two Just to ram through that Paul,

didn't steady herself. -- just to ram through the ball. She might

have expected a drop shot, Sharapova looked vulnerable to the

drop shot after being pulled out of That is a big miss from Sharapova.

A comfortable forehand at 0-30, in the middle of the net, very

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds

How was that return? The direction of the body serve was very good.

Maria was just able to make enough room to bring the racket through on

the backhand side. Just getting out of the way, an extra step and they

shut down the line. That was an explosive return. -- A show of. You

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds

would never count Herat. She is a These are desperate times for

Sharapova. She is being forced to go for winners from positioned on

the court that you don't want to be having to do so, like that last one,

brilliant counter-punching play from Azarenka. She got that down

the line, Sharapova off balance going for a clean winner down the

line and she won't make many of And from break point down, Azarenka

wins her first service game in the second set. It has been paid -- a

tough start to the second set for Sharapova. We wondered how she

would feel, this new bill to this arena, in a Grand Slam final -- a

new girl. She has settled absolutely, after maybe 10 minutes

in the first set. She looks so comfortable. She looks the champion

The evidence of Jerez it is certainly clear. She is perspiring

very clearly -- the evidence of her A key factor on Sharapova winning

this match was domination on her serve and it has just not happen. -

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds

Very willing to step up, whether it be a volley or an overhead, she

looks comfortable in all areas. Nothing wrong with that motion, is

That was the difference, in that rally, right there, when Sharapova,

with acute backhand cross-court -- that huge. But Azarenka got off

court and hit it back just as deep. When Sharapova gets on the run, she

can't stay in the rally, with the athleticism of Azarenka or so far

That is why did. And it is now a That is why did. And it is now a

two breaks. -- wide. Azarenka is three games away from the world No.

1 spot and the first Grand Slam championship of what could well be

many. This young woman plays with confidence. She is a force of

nature on court, and she has now won nine of the last 10 games. She

won nine of the last 10 games. She has really turned it around from an

understandably nervous start. I wonder what Sharapova can do. The

most lucratively endorse athlete in the game, obviously a beautiful

woman, a great competitor and also the most followed female athlete on

Facebook, so she is big time. She is engaged now to Sasha visit --

the Sasha Vujacic. Her coach was telling her there to moving closer

to the baseline. -- move in. We caught him doing that. That is what

they are playing for. Had basketball star fiancee it plays in

Turkey now. But he played for the LA Lakers. -- her basketball star

That must be one of the worst service statistics that Sharapova

service statistics that Sharapova has ever had. She is basically

coming up against a survey like Sharapova, Azarenka, and completely

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds

She is certainly not going to hold back, Sharapova. It is the only way

back, Sharapova. It is the only way she can play. She will have the

belief that she is going to keep A spectacular set. Azarenka has

Sharapova taking her time. Just be gripping. She obviously has to hold

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UMPIRE: Miss Sharapova is challenging the call on the right-

Once again, Azarenka or red bed big shot from a Sarratt -- Sharapova.

She seems to be able to anticipate where she is going -- once again,

Azarenka or read that big shock from Sharapova. She seems to know

where that Paul is going. That one UMPIRE: Ms Azarenka is challenging

So you agree that the call is late? She is accepting the logic from the

umpire's chair, because she knows there is no future in arguing it,

but what she is saying is is that call, or the lack of it, affect the

play? Of course it didn't, it That is the pattern we have seen so

much. Sharapova does not have the foot speed to recover, or the

recovery speed to get back and cover the other side of the court

after being pulled out wide. This is the shot from Azarenka that does

the damage. She can't recover. is almost like she needs the court

to be about three times faster, Sharapova, so she can get the ball

away from Azarenka. She hasn't been Just can't get through the defences.

No. We have seen recently in Grand Slams, at different champions

coming to the fore. Petra Kvitova, winning at Wimbledon, beating

Azarenka in the semi-finals. Sharapova, in the final. We saw Sam

Stosur at the US Open, Li Na at the French. If Azarenka wins one of

these next two points, she is very close to becoming a first-time

What we don't know in women's tennis, at the moment, our is where

Serena Williams is. After recovering from health problems,

she has declared that she is not happy on the court and did not look

That is long. Azarenka could not be more pumped up. One feels for the

person on the receiving end, that is Sharapova, but this has been

dominant from a new champion in waiting. It has. It is a complete

blow-out. There is a buzz about the crowd. It is disappointing, or

finals like this, you want a close match of some sort and this has not

match of some sort and this has not been a challenge, after the first

three games. It has just been a walk in the park for her. She has

completely dominated Sharapova. The way she has blunted all the weapons

that Sharapova or possesses in her game, it has been remarkable, and

she has just embraced the situation. Looked a bit shaky at the start, it

is understandable, but got it back together very quickly after those

first two-and-a-half games. Since then, it has been so easy. She beat

Radwanska in the quarter-finals, Kim Clijsters, the defending

champion in the semi-finals. She had to go three sets in both of

those matches. This looks to be a straight set drubbing at the moment.

She had to struggle to suppress a She had to struggle to suppress a

smile, there. There will be a party smile, there. There will be a party

tonight, if she wins. She is a lively professional. Full of fun.

After being world junior champion, she won the Australian Open juniors.

She has worked her way up through the game, it is all on the line

here, serving for the Australian Open. And the world number one

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds

Sam Sumyk, working with the This may be the best backhand she

has hit all day. Just turned slightly, there. And just drilled

You are going to see her smile liked the place up, if she does

when. She hasn't yet. -- liked the The sort of complacency that we are

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds

allowed in here, but there is going It is a shame we don't have a heart

rate monitor on the players. I would suggest that Victoria

Azarenka is pretty excited about A master class of tennis, this has

A new champion in Australia. Women's tennis has a new world

number one. That is what it means. number one. That is what it means.

A life's ambition, it realised. Playing partners, friends and

colleagues, coach, parents, brothers, sisters, relatives,

brothers, sisters, relatives, followers. They will all know what

she has sacrificed to make this happen. She still can't believe it.

This is your time. How nice is that from Sam Sumyk, her coach? "this

time is for you". Is that her of the physiotherapist? Yes. When you

were Davis Cup captain, he was your physio? He was for a while. Great

Just great moments. This one is for you, says the coach. This is your

time. She has just played the best match of her career in the most

important match of her career. People who haven't seen this

Victoria Azarenka on court, everyone is talking about the

screeching and all that sort of stuff. But she really is quite a

bubbly personality, I think she will be a great world number one.

Friends with all the other players. And this is really a time to

celebrate the achievement of an ambition, and a life defining

moment. Now we get ready for the presentation. As she empty circuit

back into the Rod Laver Arena. I don't know if she has got 15,000

bits and bobs in there. The tournament director will say, it

will be a few minutes. Thoughts the Maria Sharapova. It is not back to

the drawing board, it has been a fabulous comeback, she has done it

all before. Perhaps she can do it again. JOHN INVERDALE:, they are

the most fantastic pictures. You said a live defining moment, you

can see that 14 years of hard work, because from a very early age, this

was her course of action, it has come to fruition today. You can see

that in her face. Who is she texting? I am going to turn on my

mobile device, I am going to get on her Twitter. She is Vika7. I don't

know if she will be calling her mum and dad, or tweeting to the world.

I wonder when it will sink in. won so convincingly, so

conclusively in the end, are we looking at a face that could

actually dominate the women's game for the next two or three years?

is an interesting question. This is a confidence player. When she gets

confidence, she is virtually I think Petra Kvitova is another,

she perhaps has the slight advantage of being left-handed, the

Wimbledon champion who beat Maria Sharapova in the final last year.

There has been a changing of the guard. Azarenka is number one, I

think a bit of a will be at number two in the world. -- i think of it

There we have a new number one as well as a new Australian champion.

John, you said you did think that Sharapova or might, if not rollover

in the second set, you felt that Azarenka might actually run away

with it. What happened to Sharapova or's game in the second set?

problem was that there was nothing she could do to get Azarenka off

the court, to win these points. The first serve from Azarenka was not a

bad percentage but it was neutralised. -- the first serve

from Sharapova was not bad. Azarenka did not let her into the

match, she was so good in defence, Sharapova had to keep going for way

too much. The percentages did not stack in her favour. Once she got

through those first few games in the first set, when Sharapova

should have been up a double break, and we might have been talking

about a totally different match, after that it was one-way traffic,

a brilliant display. Losing is losing, but losing it to love, does

it have any impact on Sharapova or Dechy put it down as one of those

things and move on? -- or does she put it down? She will put it down

to one of those things. She has done it before. This is the final

of a major championship, but Sharapova, she is an amazing

champion and the mind is incredible. She will say, I didn't expect to

get to the final, and she will go back to the drawing board. With her

coach, to try to find ways to beat people like Azarenka. She needed a

faster court today. The speed wasn't enough for her. She just

could not find a way to penetrate it all. It was a brilliant

performance by an Arak -- Azarenka. I'm told that Kuznetsova has

already texted heard to say congratulations on being the world

number one. I am sure that is the first of many messages, she seems a

very engaging personality, a good one to be at the top of the women's

game. Yes, women's tennis has been lucky. Caroline Wozniacki was a

tremendous ambassador but to the wider public, she had not won a

Grand Slam, people did not understand how she could be world

number one if she had not won one of the big ones. She is not only a

wonderful personality but she has won one of the Slams. People get

this, she has won the big matches, she is world number one. It is

entirely comprehensible to people. You may be wondering why we are

waiting endlessly for the presentation ceremony, they do tend

to drag things at the Australian Open. I am sure in a few moments,

we will have the presentation party. It is a very glamourous trophy, it

was kind of winched on in a kind of trapeze and presented to Martina

Hingis before the final took place. I don't know if she is part of the

presentation party but she was wearing a spectacular white dress.

I think we're getting close to the The presentation party have made

their way there. The flags of the nations are represented at the

first Grand Slam of the year, just first Grand Slam of the year, just

behind the net. Ladies and gentlemen, it is time to commence

our women's singles final presentation. Can I ask you to put

your hands together for all the women who have given us so much

fabulous entertainment in the last two weeks. It has been quite

outstanding. I am joined on stage by the President of Tennis

Australia, Steve Healey, and one -- from ANZ, one of the major sponsors,

Mr Mike Smith. And also a young lady who knows this cord better

than most, and I am sure you will give her another warm welcome back,

But to commence official proceedings, it is my pleasure to

call to the microphone, the President of Tennis Australia,

You're Excellencies, his Royal Highness, prime ministers,

dignitaries, ladies and gentlemen, what a privilege it has been to

watch a fantastic performance tonight, and indeed, an incredible

two weeks of competition between the very best female players in the

world. There have been moments of great exultation, despair, high

drama, great excitement, with some disappointment. Undoubtedly, non-

stop entertainment and quality tennis throughout the fortnight.

More than ever before, the Australian Open and the city of

Melbourne has captured the attention of world sport. In

particular, watching these amazing athletes display their puts it --

spectacular talent in this incredible venue. I would like to

thank the Victorian government for their support in even further

improving this venue, and in particular, our more than 4,000

tennis Australia staff who have done such a fantastic job in

supporting this event, and making it's such a special one this year.

You have all out done yourselves, congratulations and thank you for

that. Maria, bad luck tonight but it is terrific to see you back near

the top of women's tennis after a period of injury and I am sure the

next Grand Slam is not too far away. Victoria, congratulations on your

first Grand Slam win, here in Australia at the Australian Open.

To go with it, the number-one ranking in the world from next

Victoria, we now add your name to some of the legendary names of

world tennis on the Daphne at curst Memorial Trophy, congratulations

and well done. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, could I ask you to

also acknowledge our chair umpire for the final, Caroline Kremer.

So, too are one or -- runner up in the 2012 win in singles Australian

Open Championship. It is great to see her back after the problems she

has had with their shoulder, and I am sure another Grand Slam is not

too far away, but for the moment, she is the runner up of the

First of all, the first congratulations goes to Victoria.

It is an honour to play against you, you have owned this title, you have

worked so hard for it over the years. -- her and this title.

Congratulations, cherish it for as As in any sport, you have your good

days, your tough days and days where things don't work out. Today,

Victoria was better on so many levels, and a display too good. As

an athlete, to be at this stage, it all comes down to the last two

athletes, winner takes it all out of all the players in the draw. To

stand here after so many years, it has been a few years since I have

been back on this stage. I have had great moments here, tough losses,

and this was another one. But there is no doubt I will be back and

performing in front of all of you guys, you mean so much to me.

Melbourne has been my home away from home for the last month, it

has been... I could not have asked for a better home. Many thanks to

my team, my coach, Thomas, Vladimir, Max, my mother and my father, who

always believed in me, no matter if I played tennis, went to school,

whatever I did. My fiancee, I can't wait to see you soon, and all my

friends who have supported me over the years. I love you, we are going

to have so many great moments. Everyone who makes this event

happen, the sponsors, anyone I have forgotten, the volunteers, the

drivers, the ball kids, or not you, thank you so much and I can't wait

to be back. -- all of you, thank you so much. Well done, Maria,

thank you very much. And welcome back to Melbourne Park. As Steve

mentioned, there is a new world number one in women's tennis, and

she just happens to be the 2012 Wonderful pictures from Melbourne,

sorry you might have lost them for First, I want to congratulate Maria,

and thank you for such kind words. It has been a great two wigs, you

did really well, I am sure we are going to have many more finals that

we are going to perform, I wish you all good luck for the rest of the

I would like to thank my team, Sam, JP, Susanne, John, you guys have

been supporting me for so long and believing in me. It made me realise

I can believe in myself, and I can finally raised this trophy.

I want to thank my parents, who are watching for sure. My friends, my

boyfriend and my grandmother, the person who inspires me most in my

Of course, I would like to thank all the sponsors for making it such

an amazing was a -- event. I have been lobbing coming back every year

since I was the junior -- loving coming back. I can't wait to be

back next year. I had an amazing month in Australia and it was a

dream come true, thank you so much. Of course, all the volunteers, the

drivers, I hope you guys enjoyed my doughnuts, I have been feeding it

forever these two weeks, I know you gained weight but I know it makes

you smile every time. All the ladies in the locker room, the

physios, the ball boys and ball girls, the lines people, I know we

are hard on you sometimes but with algae we would not be playing,

thank you so much. -- without you we would not be playing. Of course,

for the crowd. There you go, come Thank you so much, you have been an

inspiration, I can't wait to be back. Thanks again.

Let's hear it once again for the number one player in the world and

the Australian Open champion, Victoria Azarenka. Two absolutely

charming speeches from two of the finest ambassadors for women's

tennis that you could possibly imagine, Maria Sharapova and

Victoria Azarenka. She will pose with that trophy and share the

moment with somebody who has raised the trophy three times, Martina

Hingis, and with Maria as well. Fabulous moments, you can see how

popular she is. Good luck to her this year, and the other players,

it has been a fantastic women's draw. At the end of it all, the top

player in the world is the one who won this tournament. Victoria

Azarenka, the new champion of JOHN INVERDALE: You suspect a few

more victory speeches will be delivered like that by Victoria

Azarenka this year, and in the years to come. John, overall, was

that the biggest testimony to her, the way in which she overcame the

shakes and the wobbles at the start, to prove what a good player she was,

because 2 1/2 games in, you were thinking, this could be a horror

show. She righted the ship and won it emphatically. JOHN LLOYD:

Absolutely right, she did it the hard way. You would expect her to

be a bit nervous, and she was. The first service game, a couple of

double faults. Then she was down 0- 30 and Sharapova was thinking, I

have got this one. She was nervous, had a chance to break, made a

couple of bad errors. Once she got that game, she bisected Maria

Sharapova's game. The way she embraced the situation was

incredible. I think we can show you how that means Azarenka is top of

the world rankings. It does not mean that Sharapova moves into

second but the gap will have narrowed because of the ranking

Andrew made the point in his closing remarks that the women's

game is in a very healthy state, having perhaps a few years ago

suffered a bit of a lull. There are a lot of players who are very

competitive and it means that the latter stages of the Grand Slams

for this year should be very good. I think so. I think we have needed

this. Wozniacki, it might also help her that she has been knocked off

the number-one spot. I think the pressure of that stuff going when

she was number one and had never won a Slam, I think she will be

back. Azarenka, the personality she has got, as well as the game, and

Petra Kvitova, such an exciting player. Serena Williams is not

around at the moment but she will be back. We have got Kim Clijsters

back for what looks like only one more year. I think the women's game

We have lots more sport to show you on BBC television through today.

Football Focus is coming up at lunchtime, and it is also an

Olympic here, who will be the woman's cynic -- singles champion

at the Olympics, because that is almost the fifth major this year,

obviously being played at Wimbledon, which will add tension to the

competition this year. We have delayed -- latest of the Olympic

delayed -- latest of the Olympic dreams programmes, at 1pm today on

BBC One. In an Olympic here, obviously athletics is top of the

agenda, and that the start of the Olympic here we have our first

indoor action starting at 1:30pm on BBC One, and then the indoor bowls,

BBC One, and then the indoor bowls, obviously. Tomorrow, we have Rafael

Nadal against Nadal -- Djokovic. The one imponderable, I will ask

you, it is impossible to know, how much will yesterday have taken out

of the world number one? It will unquestionably hurt him. A

few years ago, when Rafael Nadal beat Roger Federer and the final,

he had a five-hour game the day before, which she won and won the

final. He is in such good shape, Djokovic, that I don't think that

will make the difference. Will it have any bearing if we get into a

fourth or fifth set? You would think so, but again Nadal did not

when he beat Roger Federer a couple of years ago. I have a sneaky

feeling Nadal will win this, even though the form book doesn't say he

will. If it goes into the latter stages of the match, perhaps that

will make the difference. That was the match point that took Djokovic

into another grand-slam final. He would love to make it four majors.

You can see it live at 8:15pm on BBC Two tomorrow. -- 8:15am. Her

much do you think that match yesterday will have given him

confidence? He came into this tournament saying he would not win

it, he is in the final now, he wants the final and the challenge,

this is a situation that Nadal loves. I think he will win tomorrow.

It will be fascinating to see. Thanks for watching yesterday and