Azarenka and Li are one place apart in the world rankings, at 30 and 29, respectively, a closeness that was reflected on the scoreboard as both players strived to gain any advantage.

The Belarusian stormed through the first set, breaking Li in the opening game and pinning her back with an array of powerful groundstrokes.

Li broke back in the sixth to get the set back on serve, but surrendered it immediately to give the initiative back to Azarenka.

Azarenka, who left the court at 4-3 to have her right thigh strapped, showed no signs of wavering as she held her next two service games to take the opening set. The Belarusian refused to blame the leg injury for her loss.

"It started hurting me in the first set and the trainer taped me - it got better but I still had a few problems moving to the forehand," she said.

"I was still able to play - so it's not an excuse as to why I lost."

Li stormed back in the second set as her deft placement began to take its toll on Azarenka. And although Li was broken twice, she broke Azarenka three times to send the match into a decider.

When Li broke Azarenka in the third game of the third set it appeared the match was heading for a quick finish. But the Belarusian refused to give in and broke back three games later to get back on serve.

However, Li steadied and took advantage of a loose service game from Azarenka at 4-4 to break again and serve for the match at 5-4. She raced to 40-15 and clinched the title when Azarenka hit a forehand over the baseline.

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