Novak Djokovic and Victoria Azarenka rolled to easy victories in the BNP Paribas Open, with the top-ranked Serb collecting his record fifth title and Azarenka winning for the second time to get back into the world’s top 10.
- Djokovic beat Milos Raonic 6-2, 6-0 to improve his match record to 22-1 this year.
- It was the Serb’s third consecutive title in the California desert, breaking a tie with four-time champion Roger Federer, who lost to Djokovic the past two years in the final and skipped this year because of a knee injury.
- Azarenka defeated error-prone Serena Williams 6-4, 6-4.
- Azarenka’s victory and Williams’ return to the final for the first time since 2001, when a hostile crowd triggered her 14-year boycott, was overshadowed by comments from tournament director Raymond Moore.
- It was Azarenka’s first victory over the top-ranked Williams since the Cincinnati final in August 2013.
- Azarenka and Williams met for the 21st time in their careers, with Williams owning a 17-4 edge.
- Djokovic and Azarenka each earned $1.02 million.