Victoria Azarenka won the tennis tournament in Marbella

Victoria Azarenka won the tennis tournament in Marbella

Belarusian tennis player Victoria Azarenka won the WTA Marbella tournament, which was held at the Spanish resort from 4 to 11 April 2011.

In the final Victoria Azarenka quite easily defeated Romanian Irina Bega 6-3 6-2. In addition, before the final Azarenka was able to eliminate the former top-ranked Russian Dinara Safina in the quarterfinals. Safina refused to continue the match loosing 1:5 to Azarenka.

For many experts Azarenka’s win in Marbella was a surprise. Either way, winning of the tournament in Marbella helped the athlete from Belarus to join the five strongest WTA players of the world.

WTA Andalucia Tennis Experience 2011 - this is the full official name of the tournament - can be considered as one of the most important WTA ground tournaments in Europe. It is a kind of challenge on the eve of one of the four Grand Slam tournaments - the French Open, which takes place on Rolland Garros courts in May. This year's tournament in Marbella is held for the third time. Prior to Azarenka its winners became famous Serbian tennis player Jelena Jankovic and Italian Flavia Pennetta.

This year's prize fund of WTA Andalucia Tennis Experience in 2011 is amounted to 220,000 dollars. Winning of the tournament allowed Azarenka to earn 37,000 dollars.

In the history of the Belarusian tennis Victoria Azarenka is the second tennis player, who was able to get into the WTA top five. Before that only one athlete from Belarus, Natasha Zvereva in 1989, was able to do so.

It is worth noting that for Azarenka tournament in Marbella is the second won in April. Earlier this month she defeated in the finals of the Sony Ericsson Open 2011 in Miami Russian Maria Sharapova.

Ilya Kalachev

Date: 17/04/2011