World No.1 Victoria Azarenka beat second-seeded Maria Sharapova 6-2 6-3 to win the ATP-WTA Indian Wells title on Sunday.
Azarenka, from Belarus, has won all 23 matches she has played this year, the best start to a women’s season since Martina Hingis won 37 in a row in 1997.
Reigning Australian Open champion Azarenka won her fourth title of the year by capturing the showdown with Russian beauty Sharapova, the first tournament final featuring the world’s two top-ranked players since 2008.
The 22-year-old from Belarus hit one ace, had two double faults and won 71 per cent of her first serve points in collecting her fourth title of 2012 and a $1 million winner’s check.