CALIFORNIA, United States (AFP) — Victoria Azarenka stunned world number one Serena Williams 6-4, 6-4 yesterday to capture her second Indian Wells crown and a 19th career singles title.

Azarenka blasted five aces, while Williams was undone by 33 unforced errors and five double faults in the 88-minute championship of the joint WTA and ATP Tour hard court event.

“Definitely not the game plan,” Williams said. “I think I probably was trying to hit through nerves,” she said.

Azarenka, a former world number one now ranked 15th after battling injuries, has been a thorn in the side of Williams over the years, and she became the first player to deny the 34-year-old Williams a trophy on four occasions.

Heading into the contest, Azarenka and Serena’s sister, Venus, were the only players to have beaten Williams three times in finals.

The 13th-seeded Azarenka also thwarted Williams’ bid to become the first three-time winner of the Indian Wells women’s title.

Azarenka got two early breaks at the beginning of both sets against Williams before closing out the match in front of a crowd of about 15,000 on the main stadium court, when Williams sailed yet another forehand long.

Azarenka held serve in the first set to take a 2-0 lead that the erratic American couldn’t dent.

Williams even got caught standing still and admiring a shot at game point in the eighth game, allowing Azarenka to hit a slow forehand winner into the open court.

Out of sorts to start the second set, Williams quickly found herself in an 0-3 hole, smashing her racquet on the ground after dropping serve in the third game before tossing it backwards over her shoulder.

She briefly came to life to regain one break, but was unable to mount a charge.

Azarenka duly served out the match, adding a second title to the Indian Wells crown she captured in 2012 and earning $1.02 million for the victory.

“Feels good just to see the work that I have put in and it’s paying off,” Azarenka said. “Just everything that I have been through in the last years, it makes it more special.”

Runner-up Williams collected $500,000.

Tennis: Djokovic captures Indian Wells title

Meanwhile, world number one Novak Djokovic won the men’s title with a 6-2, 6-0 rout of a hobbled Milos Raonic, taking the crown for the third-straight year and a record fifth time overall.

The defending two-time champ Djokovic, who hasn’t lost in Indian Wells since 2013, earned his 62nd career title and extended his match win streak at the joint ATP and WTA hard court tournament to 17 straight.