THAT’S THE SPIRIT: Serena Williams of the US (right) and Belarusian Victoria Azarenka celebrate with their trophies after the Rome Open final. (AFP)
AFP/Rome
World number one Serena Williams swept Belarusian Victoria Azarenka aside 6-1, 6-3 to win her second Rome Open title yesterday, a week before a fresh tilt at the French Open.
Williams broke Azarenka’s serve three times in a one-sided first set and despite a tighter second set, the American prevailed to stretch her career-best winning streak to 24 matches.
It was Williams’ 51st career title and took her victory tally over Azarenka, who beat the American earlier this season in the final of the Doha hardcourt event, to 12-2 in their series.
Azarenka had swept Sara Errani aside in the semi-final on Saturday with a powerful display of tennis which left the Italian, who only made the last four after Russian second seed Maria Sharapova pulled out, struggling to mount any kind of challenge.
However the tables were promptly turned on the third-seeded Belarusian, who found herself on the end of a Williams masterclass that has installed her as the favourite for next week’s French Open at Roland Garros.
Williams, however, said the match was closer than the score suggested. “It was very close, the first three games were over 20-25 minutes or so, so it wasn’t really easy out there. Nothing is really easy,” said the American. “I just took the opportunities when I had them. I know she (Azarenka) did as well, but I came up with the good shots sometimes.”
Azarenka too agreed the match had been closer than the score suggested: “She played a very good match but I don’t think the score tells the true story of the game.”
But she admitted Williams had made the difference in the key moments. “She definitely showed some more incredible tennis today... she’s been playing her best tennis for the past year and a half or so,” added the Belarusian. “But today she played much better in the key moments of the match.”
It is Williams’ second title in Rome, having first won the event in 2002. And after conceding defeat to Frenchwoman Virginie Razzano in last year’s first round at Roland Garros, the American said she is taking a different approach this year.
“It’s definitely different. It has to be,” she said. “I was feeling excellent last year and didn’t do great. This year I’m more cautious. I want to work hard and stay focused and win every point hard and not slack at all.”