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Azarenka claims Miami title

Miami - Victoria Azarenka defeated Maria Sharapova 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday to win the WTA's prestigious Miami hardcourt crown for the second time.

Azarenka, the 21-year-old eighth seed from Belarus, took full advantage of Sharapova's struggles, as the former world number one held serve just once and committed 43 unforced errors.

After the two traded breaks of serve in the opening two games, Azarenka won nine straight games to take charge.

Trailing 6-1, 4-0, Sharapova dug in, finally holding serve and breaking Azarenka twice to close to 4-3 in the second set.

Once again, however, Sharapova was broken, giving Azarenka a 5-3 lead with her seventh double fault of the match.

In the next game, Sharapova saved two match points before Azarenka double-faulted on break point.

But Sharapova couldn't follow up. Azarenka gave herself a third match point with a backhand winner down the line, and Sharapova then belted a forehand into the net to give Azarenka a second Miami title to go with her victory over Serena Williams in the 2009 final.

The two titles are the biggest of the Azarenka's career.

With the victory, Azarenka is projected to rise to number six in the world, the highest ranking of her career.

Despite her defeat, Sharapova is expected to return to the top 10 for the first time in two years.

She won three Grand Slam titles between 2004 and 2008, but has struggled to regain that form since surgery on her right shoulder late in 2008.

Since then she has won titles in Tokyo in in 2009 and Memphis and Strasbourg last year, but has yet to claim a major crown.

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