Azarenka takes Luxembourg title

LUXEMBOURG, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- Top-seeded Victoria Azarenka earned her third WTA championship of 2011 with a 6-2, 6-2 win Sunday over Monica Niculescu at the BGL BNP Paribas Luxembourg Open.

Azarenka opted not to defend her 2010 Kremlin Cup title and entered at Luxembourg. She dominated the Luxembourg event, losing as many as four games in a set just once in five matches.

She piled up six service breaks over eight receiving games against Niculescu, who was making her first WTA title match appearance. Azarenka lost just five points in four service games in taking the first set and allowed Niculescu to win six points in four service games in the second.

Niculescu, who fell to 0-4 lifetime against Azarenka, was coming off a tough 3-hour semifinal win over Anne Keothavong whereas Azarenka had dispatched sixth-seeded Julia Goerges in 76 minutes Saturday.

The Kremlin Cup adds to wins in back-to-back weeks in April in Miami and Marbella, Spain, this year and gives Azarenka eight WTA titles. All have come since January 2009.