Azarenka secures No.1 ranking

ISTANBUL, TURKEY – OCTOBER 27: Victoria Azarenka of Belarus poses for photographers after being presented a trophy for finishing the year number one in the WTA rankings during the TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships at the Sinan Erdem Dome October 27, 2012 in Istanbul, Turkey.

Istanbul, Oct 28 – Victoria Azarenka defeated China’s Li Na at the $4.9 million WTA Championships here, a result that ensures the Belarusian holds the World No.1 spot at the end of the tennis season.

Azarenka completed a 7-6(4), 6-3 win over Li Na in her final group stage match to book a semifinal encounter with World No.2 Sharapova, which the Russian eventually lost Saturday.

Azarenka first reached top of the rankings since winning the Australian Open, her first Grand Slam singles title.

The Belarusian lost her first place to Maria Sharapova in June, when the Russian won the French Open, but regained it after Wimbledon.

“It’s a dream come true and I feel great. Now I just want to play my last matches of the year and then after that I can relax and enjoy this moment more,” Azarenka said after the match.