Azarenka not worried at Williams’s winning run

Serena Williams is very much regarded as the woman to beat at the Australian Open but it is Victoria Azarenka who is bidding for a third successive title at Melbourne Park.

The last of Williams’s five titles at the year’s opening grand slam came four years ago, with ankle problems contributing to shock exits in both 2012 and 2013.

But the 32-year-old’s quarter-final defeat by Sloane Stephens was one of only four she suffered in the whole of last season.

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Williams began this year by beating Azarenka to win another title in Brisbane and heads into the Australian Open on a 22-match winning streak.

It is no wonder she is the clear favourite, and Azarenka has no complaints.

The Belarusian said: “I don’t really care about it, honestly. I never cared about it. For us, it’s a matter of playing tennis and giving your best on the court.

“Comparing to her last season, of course, everybody will be motivated to beat her.”

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Fifty per cent of Williams’s defeats last year came against Azarenka and the rivalry is the closest the women’s game has got to the competition at the top of the men’s game.

But Azarenka has managed only three victories against Williams from 17 matches, while third seed Maria Sharapova has lost 14 straight times against the world No 1 dating back to 2004.

Despite her final defeat, Azarenka was happy with the way things went in Brisbane.

She said: “I think it was a great preparation, the whole week in Brisbane, to play actually so many different types of players.

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“That’s what you want to get at the beginning of the season and in preparation for an event like this. It was a great week for me.”

Azarenka’s final opponent last year was Li Na, who is the fourth seed this time around after the most consistent season of her career in 2013. Li’s main ambition is simply to stay on her feet after twice taking medical time-outs during the final 12 months ago.

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