For the first time in five WTA finals against Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sharapova managed to come out victorious and she's done it in style, with a confident 6-1 6-4 win at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart. Making her debut at the tournament, Sharapova, perfect on her serve, claimed her first title in 2012, 25th in career and fourth on clay.

Unlike Azarenka, who only in the fourth game didn't miss her first serve and actually scored a point on it, Sharapova had a 90% winning percentage on first serve after eight games of the match, while in the end that percentage was 84. Azarenka's winning on first serve was not bad eventually, 76%, but on the second serve it was only 22%.

Sharapova opened the match with a 3-0 lead, and the second break for 5-1 quickly determined Azarenka's faith. The second set was more close, but Sharapova's break in the seventh game provided her with the advantage which Azarenka was unable to overcome and Sharapova finished the match serving to love.

After a first round bye, the second-seeded Sharapova beat Alize Cornet, fifth seed Samantha Stosur, third seed Petra Kvitova, and finally the tournament's top seed, who claimed to be satisfied with her performance at the tournament despite the loss in the final. (photo: Ralf Reinecke)

Because of a back injury, world No.12 Andrea Petkovic had been away from the competition from Sydney in the beginning of January to the last weekend's Fed Cup tie against Australia, which is full three months. And now playing only her second match in a WTA event since the comeback, the German suffered an ankle injury and retired in the second set against Victoria Azarenka.

The top-seeded Azarenka won the first set 6-2. With the score tied at 4-4 in the second set Petkovic twisted her right ankle and it swelled up immediately. Tomorrow's tests will show how great the damage is.

This Petkovic's quote assures me that she's staying positive:

It is definitely unlucky, but I will be back again.

After the three-month layoff Petkovic lost to Samantha Stosur 6-4 6-1 in the Fed Cup, then in the first round of Stuttgart she defeated Kristina Barrois 6-1 6-4, and now she's on the sidelines again. Hopefully the injury is not too serious! (photo: sr_cranks)

World No.1 Victoria Azarenka started working with Amelie Mauresmo, former No.1 and two-time Grand Slam champion, and now we have photo proof that the two have already realized their cooperation in practice, preparing for the upcoming Roland Garros on the clay courts of Monaco. The photo was posted today on the Facebook page of Roland Garros.

Let me remind you, the greatest gap in Mauresmo's career is the fact that she hadn't managed to win her home Grand Slam of Roland Garros, even though her game is well-suited for clay. She's never been past the quarterfinals of the tournament, while at all the other Grand Slam she went further. She did win WTA titles on clay, six of her career 25, but at Roland Garros she always seemed to be blocked by nervousness. After her loss to Nicole Vaidisova at the 2006 French Open, Mauresmo said: "I think people should start looking for me at other tournaments."

Azarenka's best performance at Roland Garros were the 2009 and 2011 quarterfinals.

World No.1 and reigning Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka wanted Amelie Mauresmo in her team, and her coach Sam Sumyk made it happen, hiring the Frenchwoman as a consultant.

Samyk revealed:

We would be making a mistake if we were to deprive ourselves of her kind of experience and ability. Amelie is Vika’s choice and from the moment she expressed that wish, I have tried to make it happen.

Here’s how the former No.1 Mauresmo commented on her new cooperation:

Some news from Monaco where I started a work period of 2 weeks a couple days ago with Vika Azarenka! I'm sure it's gonna be a great adventure and that I can help her by sharing my experience… All the team is amazing and very open with me so thanks to them!

Australian Open and Wimbledon champion Mauresmo ended her illustrious 17-year career in December 2009. (photo: © Neal Trousdale)

As The Slice reports, Nike-clad Victoria Azarenka will switch from shorts to dresses for next month’s Roland Garros. The most successful player of the season is expected to wear the Tie Breaker Knit Dress in orange, while a white version of the item is also available.

The design looks very much like something Nike would dedicate to Serena Williams. It reminds me of Serena’s 2010 Roland Garros dress, because of the pleated hem and lively colors.