Azarenka beats Williams for Cincinatti title

MANILA, Philippines – Victoria Azarenka won a showdown between the world’s top two ranked players, beating No. 1 Serena Williams in a three-set thriller in the final of the Western and Southern Open on Sunday. For two hours and 30 minutes, Azarenka and Williams engaged in a see-saw Center Court battle before the second-ranked Belarusian finally clinched the victory by winning a nervy tiebreaker, 8-6. With the win, Azarenka bagged her third title of the year and the 17th of her career. Williams had won just about everything there is to win in her sport, but not Cincinnati, one of the WTA Tour’s most prestigious tournaments. -- Dateline Philippines, ANC, August 19, 2013