2012 Stuttgart Finals Live Online: Azarenka vs Sharapova

In the first WTA tennis tournament semifinals since 2009 to feature the WTA top four players, the top two seeded players emerged victorious with Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova both advancing to the finals of the PORSCHE TENNIS GRAND PRIX 2012. Watch the 2012 Stuttgart finals live online featuring Azarenka vs Sharapova here. The singles final will follow the doubles final on Sunday, April 29, 2012 live from the Centre Court at 4.30 pm local time.

World No.1 Azarenka was the first to make the final, taking an hour and 17 minutes to continue her domination of World No.4 Agnieszka Radwanska, 61 63, improving to 10-3 in the career series and a perfect 5-0 this year. The second semifinal was much tighter, with No.2-ranked Sharapova squeaking by No.3-ranked Petra Kvitova in a minute short of two hours, 64 76(3). The two put on a strong serving display, with just three breaks in 22 service games. Sharapova actually broke at 5-all in the second set and served for the match, even holding match point in that game, but ended up taking it in the breaker.

Azarenka's 2012 Season in Review: JANUARY - Won ninth WTA title at Sydney (d. Li in final); won first Grand Slam title at Australian Open (d. Sharapova in final); became No.1 on January 30 (rose from No.3 to No.1 - first player ever to skip No.2 en route to No.1). FEBRUARY - Won 11th WTA title at Doha (d. Stosur in final); withdrew from Dubai w/left ankle injury. MARCH - Won 12th WTA title at Indian Wells (d. Sharapova in final); reached QF at Miami (l. to Bartoli).

Sharapova's 2012 Season in Review: JANUARY - Withdrew from Brisbane w/left ankle injury; runner-up at Australian Open (l. to Azarenka in final). FEBRUARY - Reached QF at Paris [Indoors] (l. to Kerber). MARCH - Runner-up at Indian Wells (l. to Azarenka in final); runner-up at Miami (l. to A.Radwanska in final).

Azarenka leads Sharapova in their head-to-head series, 5-3, but perhaps more relevantly she has won both of their 2012 meetings handily - 63 60 in the Australian Open final and 62 63 in the Indian Wells final. In the pair's only clay court meeting at Rome last year Sharapova won, albeit by retirement.

PORSCHE TENNIS GRAND PRIX 2012 Results - Saturday, April 28, 2012

Singles - Semifinals
(1) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) d. (4) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) 61 63
(2) Maria Sharapova (RUS) d. (3) Petra Kvitova (CZE) 64 76(3)

Doubles - Semifinals
Goerges/Groenefeld (GER/GER) d. (1) Peschke/Srebotnik (CZE/SLO) 64 62
(5) Benesova/Zahlavova Strycova (CZE/CZE) d. Dulko/Suárez (ARG/ARG) w/o (Suárez: low back injury)

2012 Race to the WTA Championships Singles Standings

Curr Name Nation Rank PTS
1 Azarenka, Victoria BLR 4620
2 Sharapova, Maria RUS 2920
3 Radwanska, Agnieszka POL 2885
4 Bartoli, Marion FRA 1756
5 Kerber, Angelique GER 1695
6 Wozniacki, Caroline DEN 1611
7 Errani, Sara ITA 1300
8 Stosur, Samantha AUS 1226
9 Kvitova, Petra CZE 1185
10 Clijsters, Kim BEL 1180

2012 WTA Prize Money

Curr Name Nation Singles Doubles Mixed Total
1 Azarenka, Victoria BLR $4,008,080
2 Sharapova, Maria RUS $2,083,350
3 Radwanska, Agnieszka POL $1,650,459
4 Wozniacki, Caroline DEN $615,618
5 Errani, Sara ITA $554,765
6 Kvitova, Petra CZE $533,690
7 Clijsters, Kim BEL $513,691
8 Bartoli, Marion FRA $509,326
9 Goerges, Julia GER $490,010
10 Kerber, Angelique GER $451,637

Watch the 2012 Stuttgart finals live online featuring Azarenka vs Sharapova through TennisTV.com.