17 Mar 2012

Azarenka eases into Indian Wells final against Sharapova

5:46 pm on 17 March 2012

The world tennis number one Victoria Azarenka of Belarus charged into the final of the Indian Wells WTA tournament against Maria Sharapova, with a 6-4 6-3 semi-final victory over Germany's Angelique Kerber.

It's Azarenka 22nd straight win this year, which moves the pony-tailed Belarusian into outright second place in the all-time standings for the best start to a WTA Tour season behind Swiss great Martina Hingis, who leads the way with 37 consecutive victories to launch her 1997 campaign.

In Monday's final the Australian Open champion will face the second-seeded Russian Sharapova, who was a set up but a game down against 2008 winner Ana Ivanovic when the Serbian retired.