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Yes indeed the match was something interesting. Someone at the end of the first set Serena lost her focus completely. I noticed that she kept watching the overhead screens during the breaks. Usually Serena is very focused on her game, but she kept looking up at the screen and to me that said she had lost her focus for whatever reason. They would play clips and things of her talking and she couldn't stay in the moment and everytime after the break she would try to close her eyes, but the music and screens would come up and there she would be caught up singing.

As for Azarenka, she did a great job taking advantages of Serena's mental lapses.  Serena basically became passive. She lost her aggressive mentality and really couldn't stay with it and so the match up went.

Azarenka has game? I don't know... She's more of a hard hitter... she hits harder and harder and Serena usually doesn;t allow that nonsense.

Serena was very lucky that she refound her focus. i think the reality that she was about to lose a golden opportunity came back to her when she was 5-3 down and she was serving at 0-30. she managed to bring it up to even and then played her game again.

Serena's next thing to work on is, to recognize those distractors during matchplay and stay in the moment. Forget the funs, the music, the people talking just get on with it.

Serena is clearly a living tennis ACTIVE legend. The next 5 months or so will be challenging for her to stay in shape and prepare for Aussie Open. She has the chance to get to 18 and pass those other ladies. She is doing this when the field is stronger than it will ever be. The girls out there are physically tough and able to push it, but she still takes it to them.

Yesterday was clearly an on and off moment for Serena and I am sooooooo glad she came up with the win because I KNOW this that if had lost the match up, the whole tennis world would be ready to bring down the value of all the hard work she has put in over the last year. But now she is getting recognition and she truly deserves it, more than anyone out there. She is a player that can be in her own zone and no one can get on that level.

I also think that the 2 days off or rain delay disrupted her mental focus. And allowed Ararenka time to settle down and player without the tournament fatigue issues. If Serena had played her the day after ther had had other rounds, the result would have been much easier. Serena basically has to be in rhythm, if she can get out there and have match play. The less time she hitting competitive ball, the more vulnerable she is. So I think she just relaxed mentally during those extra rain delays and also without doubles... she just relaxed and she needs the intensity day in and out to keep her game together. I also thought her serve could have been much better.