Sharapova advances to Australian Open final, will face Azarenka with No. 1 at stake

Maria Sharapova will have a chance to win her fourth Grand Slam title and regain the No. 1 ranking on Saturday night when she faces Victoria Azarenka in the Australian Open women's final. The 24-year-old Russian avenged her Wimbledon finals loss to Petra Kvitova on Thursday afternoon in Melbourne, winning their tense Aussie Open semifinal, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4. She'll face Azarenka in the final. The 22-year old from Belarus came back from a set down to beat Kim Clijsters in the other semifinal. It will be the first major final for the world No. 3. Sharapova will be playing in her sixth. The battle between tennis' two most vocal players will have additional stakes. The winner will replace Caroline Wozniacki atop next week's WTA rankings. Sharapova will be looking to earn her fifth stint at No. 1, while Azarenka is seeking her first. Theirs will be the first Grand Slam with the top ranking on the line since the 2009 Australian Open final. A few inches may have spared Sharapo...