Azarenka secures back-to-back Australian titles

January 26, 2013 05:12 pm | Updated 05:12 pm IST - MELBOURNE

Victoria Azarenka makes a backhand return to Li Na in the women's final at the Australian Open in Melbourne on Saturday.

Victoria Azarenka makes a backhand return to Li Na in the women's final at the Australian Open in Melbourne on Saturday.

Victoria Azarenka has won back-to-back Australian Open titles, beating Li Na 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in a dramatic final that contained a break for fireworks and two medical timeouts.

Li tumbled twice to the court after twisting her left ankle. She had her left ankle taped after falling in the fifth game of the second set.

On the first point after a 10-minute pause in the third set while fireworks crackled overhead from nearby Australia Day celebrations, Li fell over again and slammed the back of her head into the court. The 2011 French Open champion was treated immediately and had another time out before being allowed to resume the match.

Azarenka won five of the next six games to claim her second major title and retain the No. 1 ranking.

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