eded Ana Ivanovic 6-0, 4-6, 6-3 on Saturday to advance to the final in the Southern California Open. Azarenka, the Belarus player ranked No. 3, won a sloppy match ag

CARLSBAD, Calif. -- Top-seeded Victoria Azaranka beat seventh-seeded Ana Ivanovic 6-0, 4-6, 6-3 on Saturday to advance to the final in the Southern California Open. Azarenka, the Belarus player ranked No. 3, won a sloppy match against the Serb as both players committed more unforced errors than hit winners. The two-time Australian Open champ will face fifth-seeded Sam Stosur of Australia, a 7-6 (2), 6-3 winner over Virginie Razzano of France. "When you play a tournament, its never going to be just easy matches," Azarenka said. "You have to go through the tough battles and this was one of the days. Im just happy with the end result that you can overcome things and still find a way to win, thats the most important." The semifinal win will propel Azarenka, the former world No. 1, past Maria Sharapova of Russia into the No. 2 slot when the new rankings come out Monday. Azarenka hit 21 winners and had 31 unforced errors, while Ivanovic had 31 winners and 47 unforced errors. "I gave her too many easy points, especially at the important moments, like 40-all or deuces," Ivanovic said. Azarenka, playing her first event since withdrawing from Wimbledon because of a right knee injury, scored the first of her two service breaks of the final set to take a 3-2 lead. When Ivanovic had four unforced errors in the ninth game, including a backhand into the net on the final point, Azarenka secured another break for the win. "Shes a really big shot maker," Azarenka said about Ivanovic. "She loves to take her opportunities and just bang the ball and find those deep shots. The key for me was not to let her take those shots and be the one whos putting on pressure." The first set wasnt as lopsided as the score indicated. Each of the first four games were long and drawn out. But after Azarenka broke the Serbs serve at love in the fifth game, she quickly held serve to win the first set. Ivanovic opened the second set by holding her serve, a big improvement from the first set when she made just 43 per cent of her serves and won only 53 per cent of her first serve points. Ivanovic clearly seemed to gain confidence as she won the first three games and took a 4-1 lead. But Azarenka then rolled off the next three games to tie the set before Ivanovic closed it out by holding serve, then breaking Azarenkas serve at love to force a third set. Roger Clemens Jersey . The Brazilian goalkeeper signed a loan deal with the Major League Soccer club on Friday as he looks to get playing time ahead of this summers World Cup in his home country. Marcus Stroman Jersey . "No difference at all," chirped U.S. roommate and linemate James van Riemsdyk. 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He had until midnight Wednesday to pick up the option, which would have paid him $24 million next season.The 31-year-old superstar has been a free agent the past three summers, electing each time to sign two-year contracts with a player option for the second season. Its not yet clear if hell sign another short-term deal or a multiyear package.His agent, Rich Paul, told The Associated Press there is no timetable on when James will re-sign or what type of contract hell pursue.With the leagues salary cap poised to swell dramatically in 2017-18 thanks to a $24 billion TV deal, James may opt for another short-term deal and seek a maximum contract next summer.James decision to go year to year has allowed him to maintain flexibility while keeping pressure on Cavs ownership to continue to add quality players. The Cavs, who won their first title -- and ended Clevelands 52-year championship drought -- by becoming the first team to overrcome a 3-1 deficit in the finals, have Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love under contract for three more seasons.dddddddddddd Also, forward Tristan Thompson has four years remaining on his contract.Before a massive celebration parade last week, James told reporters hes coming back to try for a repeat title. Later, he told the crowd at a rally honoring the Cavs, Lets get ready for next year.Appearing in his sixth straight finals, James was a unanimous choice for MVP after leading the Cavs to three straight wins to stun the favored Golden State Warriors, who won a record 73 games during the regular season.The three-time champion averaged 29.7 points, 11.3 rebounds and 8.9 assists in the series and posted a triple-double in Game 7. His biggest play came on defense when he chased down Warriors forward Andre Iguodala and blocked his shot in the final minutes of the last game.James is in his second stint with the Cavs after leaving as a free agent in 2010 for Miami.---This story has been corrected to show that James option would have paid him $24 million next season. ' ' '