体坛英语新闻：Azarenka claims first WTA title in Brisbane

CANBERRA, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Second-seeded Victoria Azarenka of Belarus won her first WTA Tour title on Saturday as she defeated Marion Bartoli of France 6-3, 6-1 in the final of the Brisbane International.

Victoria Azarenka of Belarus celebrates beating Italy's Sara Errani at the Brisbane International tennis tournament January 9, 2009.

    After losing four previous finals on the women's tour, the 19-year-old Azarenka finally clinched her first trophy.

    Meanwhile, Fernando Verdasco and Radek Stepanek both defeated French opponents on Saturday to reach the men's final.

    Spain's Verdasco won six straight games in the opening set on his way to a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Paul-Henri Mathieu.

    The third-seeded Verdasco then took a 5-0 lead in the second before closing out the match in just over an hour at Pat Rafter Arena.

    In Sunday's final, Verdasco will play eighth-seeded Stepanek, who beat Richard Gasquet 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 in the other semifinal.

Victoria Azarenka of Belarus reacts during her match against Italy's Sara Errani at the Brisbane International tennis tournament January 9, 2009.