<p>Serena Williams laid down an imposing marker ahead of the first Grand Slam of the year by powering to a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka at the Brisbane International.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The American won the battle between the world’s top two players to pick up her 58th career title.<br /><br />In the men’s draw, Roger Federer will be chasing a 19th win over home favourite Lleyton Hewitt when the two 32-year-olds renew their friendly rivalry in Sunday’s final.<br /><br />Both players needed three sets to reach the final with top seed Federer beating Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-7 (3-7), 6-3 and Hewitt downing Japan’s Kei Nishikori 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 in stifling conditions.<br /><br />Nadal survives<br /><br />World No 1 Rafael Nadal will face Frenchman Gael Monfils in the final of the Qatar Open after surviving a tough test against German qualifier Peter Gojowczyk in Doha on Friday.<br /><br />The Spaniard dropped the opening set against the World No 162 before raising his game sufficiently to battle through 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. Monfils beat Florian Mayer, 6-3, 6-2.<br /><br />Ivanovic wins <br /><br />Ana Ivanovic claimed her first WTA Tour title in more than two years with a 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 victory over fellow former World No 1 Venus Williams to clinch the Auckland Classic on Saturday.<br /><br />The 26-year-old Serbian had not won a title since she completed a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Spain’s Anabel Medina Garrigues in Bali at the end of 2011.<br /><br />Somdev through <br /><br />In Sydney, India’s Somdev Devvarman notched up a win against Belgium’s Niel Desein 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 to advance to the next round in the ATP Apia International qualifiers on Saturday. </p>
<p>Serena Williams laid down an imposing marker ahead of the first Grand Slam of the year by powering to a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka at the Brisbane International.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The American won the battle between the world’s top two players to pick up her 58th career title.<br /><br />In the men’s draw, Roger Federer will be chasing a 19th win over home favourite Lleyton Hewitt when the two 32-year-olds renew their friendly rivalry in Sunday’s final.<br /><br />Both players needed three sets to reach the final with top seed Federer beating Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-7 (3-7), 6-3 and Hewitt downing Japan’s Kei Nishikori 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 in stifling conditions.<br /><br />Nadal survives<br /><br />World No 1 Rafael Nadal will face Frenchman Gael Monfils in the final of the Qatar Open after surviving a tough test against German qualifier Peter Gojowczyk in Doha on Friday.<br /><br />The Spaniard dropped the opening set against the World No 162 before raising his game sufficiently to battle through 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. Monfils beat Florian Mayer, 6-3, 6-2.<br /><br />Ivanovic wins <br /><br />Ana Ivanovic claimed her first WTA Tour title in more than two years with a 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 victory over fellow former World No 1 Venus Williams to clinch the Auckland Classic on Saturday.<br /><br />The 26-year-old Serbian had not won a title since she completed a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Spain’s Anabel Medina Garrigues in Bali at the end of 2011.<br /><br />Somdev through <br /><br />In Sydney, India’s Somdev Devvarman notched up a win against Belgium’s Niel Desein 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 to advance to the next round in the ATP Apia International qualifiers on Saturday. </p>