Serena Williams Wins Italian Open

[Folami David]

World No.1 Serena Williams swept Belarusian Victoria Azarenka aside 6-1 6-3 to win her second Rome Open title on Sunday a week before a fresh tilt at the French Open.
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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.
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It was Williams's 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.
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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.
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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.
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Williams, however, said the match was closer than the score suggested.
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'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.
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'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.'
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Williams started in stunning fashion, breaking Azarenka's serve in the first game and going on to repeat that twice more on her way to a crushing 6-1 score.
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Azarenka upped her game in the second but despite showing some signs of resistance early on, Williams's far more powerful serve and return left the Belarusian frustrated.
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Azarenka did earn herself a lifeline when she broke Williams in the seventh game after the American sent a backhand just outside the line.
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But the top seed rattled off three consecutive games, including a break in the eighth game, before finishing off the job with a backhand winner down the line following two aces.
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Azarenka agreed the match had been closer than the score suggested but admitted Williams had made the difference in the key moments.

[Shola Sholaz]

Serena Williams has proven to be a wonderful tennis player so many times. She's the greatest for now.