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Posts tagged as “Victoria Azarenka”

Naomi Osaka Wins Her 2nd U.S. Open with Victory over Victoria Azarenka, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3

Naomi Osaka Wins Her 2nd U.S. Open with Victory over Victoria Azarenka, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3

By goodblacknews on September 12, 2020

Naomi Osaka came through in all ways during her journey to today’s victory in the women’s singles title match of the 2020 U.S. Open.

Not only did now two-time U.S. Open winner Osaka rally to beat challenger Victoria Azarenka (who bested six-time U.S. Open champion Serena Williams in the semi-final in three sets with the mirrored score of  1-6, 6-3, 6-3), she did so while making powerful protest statements before every match.

Osaka wore seven different masks with seven different names of Black individuals who have died violently, unnecessarily, and mostly at the hands of police officers: Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Elijah McLain, Trayvon Martin, Ahmaud Arbery, Philando Castile and today, before her final match, Tamir Rice.

Serena Williams Defeats Victoria Azarenka for Fifth U.S. Open Title

By goodblacknews on September 8, 2013
Serena Williams of the US celebrates her win over Victoria Azarenka of Belarus during their 2013 US Open women's singles final match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center September 8, 2013 in New York. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDASTAN
Serena Williams of the US celebrates her win over Victoria Azarenka of Belarus during their 2013 US Open women’s singles final match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center September 8, 2013 in New York. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDASTAN

NEW YORK — Top-seeded Serena Williams won her 17th Grand Slam title and her fifth U.S. Open on Sunday with a 7-5, 6-7 (6), 6-1 victory over second-seeded Victoria Azarenka on Arthur Ashe Stadium court.  When Azarenka’s final service return went long, Williams pumped her fists and yelled, “Come on.”  Williams had also won the French Open this year and seemed well on her way to her second straight U.S. Open title when she led 7-5, 4-1 Sunday.
But the 31-year-old Williams was broken twice when serving for the match and then lost the tiebreaker to the 24-year-old Azarenka, who  won the Australian Open this year.  A swirling wind was a factor in the match and seemed to particularly bother Williams, who at times had to fight to keep her dress from flying up and her ball toss in line.
At one point in the first set, Williams mouthed to her box, “I can’t play in this wind.” She was frustrated. She would moan after missed shots. When Azarenka held for a 3-2 lead in the first set, Williams yelled, “Oh, God,” when her forehand flew wide.

Serena Williams Wins U.S. Open Championship

By goodblacknews on September 9, 2012

Serena Williams

Serena Williams reacts while playing Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, during the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012, in New York.
NEW YORK — Given all of the setbacks Serena Williams shrugged aside over the years – on tennis courts and, more daunting, away from them – she probably shouldn’t have been worried when she stood two points from losing the U.S. Open final.
And yet, she explained afterward, “I really was preparing my runner-up speech.”
No need for that. When the going gets toughest, Williams tends to shine.
Finally tested, and even trailing, at Flushing Meadows, Williams suddenly found her composure and her strokes, winning the last four games for a 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 victory over top-ranked Victoria Azarenka on Sunday night, collecting a fourth U.S. Open championship and 15th Grand Slam title overall.