Azarenka aces Kerber in final

A polished victory at the Brisbane International finally ended a prolonged, disorganised and painful wait between titles for Victoria Azarenka, extending back to August 2013 when she beat Serena Williams in Cincinnati.

She won the Australian Open that year, too, successfully defending her 2012 title, and in a period when she was at the peak of her game.

Coming to Brisbane, the season-opening event she won in its inaugural year in 2009, Azarenka was unseeded after slipping in the rankings to No. 22 at the end of 2015 following two injury-interrupted seasons.

With a renewed determination, sense of order and maturity and fewer distractions, she broke the drought with a 6-3, 6-1 win over fourth-seeded Angelique Kerber on Saturday night for her 18th career title. “It feels like an accomplishment ... I’m not sure I feel relief. I wanted to win the title, but I didn't feel, ‘If this doesn’t happen the world is going to end.’ I think that’s when you get like relief,” she said