(AP) Azarenka secures back-to-back Australian titles
MELBOURNE, Australia
Victoria Azarenka has won her second straight Australian Open title, beating Li Na 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in a dramatic final that included a break for fireworks and two medical timeouts.
Li tumbled twice to the court after twisting her left ankle. She had the ankle taped after falling in the fifth game of the second set.
On the first point after a 10-minute pause in the third set while fireworks crackled overhead from nearby Australia Day celebrations, Li fell over again and slammed the back of her head on the court. The 2011 French Open champion was treated immediately and had another time out before being allowed to resume the match.
Azarenka won five of the next six games to claim her second major title and retain the No. 1 ranking.
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