Azarenka wins women's tennis World No 1

 　　MELBOURNE -- Saturday's Lod Laver Arena¹ saw a new World No 1 and Australian Open champion. Victoria Azarenka of Belarus outclassed Maria Sharapova from Russia in her first Australian Open singles final to lift her maiden² Grand Slam³ title and become the new world No 1 in women's tennis.

　　In men's doubles final, the legend American twins Bob and Mike Bryan were defeated by the Indian-Czech duo Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek.

　　Azarenka, 22, overcame early jitters⁴ to win the battle of the scream queens 6-3, 6-0 in only 82 minutes. The third seed, who had never entered the final of any Grand Slam tournament in her career before, also took over the word No 1 spot, which was vacated by Dane Caroline Wozniacki after her quarterfinal exit.

　　Azarenka dropped her opening service game and was down 2-0 after a nervous start. However, three errors from Sharapova, a three-time major winner and the 2008 Australian Open champion, gifted Azarenka the break back for 2-2.

　　The eighth game was crucial⁵ for the Russian, but another two double-faults allowed Azarenka to successfully serve for the set at 5-3.

　　Azarenka then reeled⁶ off nine games straight to take the first set and then the title.

　　She became the third woman to earn the No 1 spot after winning her first Grand Slam title. Azarenka reached the semifinals of Wimbledon last year, which was the first time she survived the last eight of a major.

　　Sharapova also got the chance to be world No 1 if she won today. But the fourth seed had no answer to Azarenka's brilliant baseline firepower.

　　Record also is rewritten in men's doubles event. The Bryans' winning streak⁷ of taking three Australian Open titles were snapped⁸ by Paes and Stepanek. The Indian-Czech duo won straight sets to win the one hour 24 minutes match, with a 7-6(1), 6-2 victory.

　　The Americans' dream to break the all-time record for Grand Slam doubles titles dashed. The top seeds, having been ranked world No 1 for nearly 280 weeks, are just one win away from the their 12th Grand Slam record.

1 arena   

n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台

参考例句：

• She entered the political arena at the age of 25. 她25岁进入政界。
• He had not an adequate arena for the exercise of his talents.他没有充分发挥其才能的场所。

2 maiden   

n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的

参考例句：

• The prince fell in love with a fair young maiden.王子爱上了一位年轻美丽的少女。
• The aircraft makes its maiden flight tomorrow.这架飞机明天首航。

3 slam   

v.猛力地推、放或扔；砰地关上

参考例句：

• They were surprised by the slam of a car door.关汽车门时发出的声音使他们很吃惊。
• Why should you slam the window?你干吗要使劲关窗户呢？

4 jitters   

n.pl.紧张(通常前面要有the)

参考例句：

• I always get the jitters before exams. 我考试前总是很紧张。
• The whole city had the jitters from the bombing. 全城居民都为轰炸而心神不宁。

5 crucial   

adj.极重要的，决定性的，关键性的

参考例句：

• It's a crucial decision.这是一个极其重要的决定。
• The foreign market was increasingly crucial.国外市场越来越重要了。

6 reeled   

把东西用卷轴卷起来，从卷轴上放出来( reel的过去式和过去分词 )； 感到震惊； 发昏； 似乎在不停旋转

参考例句：

• The old sailor reeled off one story after another. 老海员滔滔不绝地讲了一个又一个故事。
• His mind reeled at the news. 他听到这个消息感到一阵眩晕。

7 streak   

n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动

参考例句：

• The Indians used to streak their faces with paint.印第安人过去常用颜料在脸上涂条纹。
• Why did you streak the tree?你为什么在树上刻条纹？

8 snapped   

v.猛地咬住( snap的过去式和过去分词 )；（使某物）发出尖厉声音地突然断裂[打开，关闭]；厉声地说；拍照

参考例句：

• The wind had snapped the tree in two. 风把树喀嚓一声刮断了。
• He lost his temper and snapped irritably at the children. 他发火了，暴躁地斥责孩子们。 来自《简明英汉词典》