BEIJING — World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka won her first title in more than six months when she beat Russian Maria Sharapova 6-3, 6-1 in the final of the China Open Sunday. “I'm really happy to finally have a really good result here - I've been coming here for the last four years and I'm happy I could finally show my game and hold the trophy,” Azarenka said. Azarenka, who had beaten world No. 2 Sharapova in their previous five hardcourt meetings, completely outclassed the Russian in Beijing's National Tennis Stadium. Men's world No. 2 Novak Djokovic, meanwhile, overcame Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France in straight sets earlier in the day to win the China Open for a third time. The 25-year-old Serb defeated the world number seven 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 to maintain his unbeaten record at the ATP 500 tournament in Beijing and take the winner's prize of $530,570. Little separated the players throughout the entire opening set. The first four games went to serve before Tsonga made a breakthrough in the fifth game, breaking Djokovic without losing a point. But the Serb immediately broke back and the next six games went with serve to force a tie break, where Djokovic raced to a 4-1 lead. Tsonga won two quick points before Djokovic spurned an opportunity while 5-3 ahead, pushing a simple forehand shot well wide. But two mistakes from the Frenchman, including a backhand half volley into the net, gave the tie break and set to Djokovic. The first two service games of the second set were held before Djokovic broke in the third and was spurred on to take the next two games, racing to a 4-1 lead, then came from behind to hold serve in the sixth. Tsonga held in the seventh before Djokovic did the same to take the set and the match in one hour and 41 minutes. Nishikori rips RaonicIn Tokyo, Kei Nishikori stunned big-serving Milos Raonic 7-6, 3-6, 6-0 with an electrifying display of attacking tennis to become the host country's first Japan Open champion Sunday. It was the eight seed's second career title after winning in Delray Beach in 2008 and will elevate the 22-year-old from 17th to 15th in the world rankings. Verdasco advancesIn Shanghai, Fernando Verdasco of Spain and Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany reached the second round of the Shanghai Masters with comfortable straight-sets victories Sunday. Verdasco beat Go Soeda of Japan 6-2, 6-4 after winning four of his six break points and firing down six aces, setting up a match against seventh-seeded Juan Monaco. Kohlschreiber used a dominant serve to win 6-4, 6-4 against Ryan Harrison of the US with one break in each set. — Agencies
