World number one Serena Williams has distanced herself from the rest of the field once again after sealing the prestigious Internazionali BNL d’Italia or Italian Open for the second time in her career on Sunday with an impressive win against number three Victoria Azarenka. This is the American’s 51st career WTA title.
The top seed only lost just 10 games on her way to the final and just when everyone thought that it will be a tough match, she just romped away and lost four games 6-1, 6-3. All in all, she lost just 14 games out of the five matches that she played in Rome.
“The first three games took about 20 minutes – it wasn’t easy, nothing is ever easy,” Williams said. “I think the difference today was I took the opportunities when I had them and came up with some really good shots. And this was the best I’ve moved all week – I feel fit, and hopefully it’ll stay like this.
“Last year I was feeling excellent on clay but didn’t do that great at Roland Garros – this year I’m cautious and I want to work hard and stay focused and win every point I play, and not slack at all,” she added.
Williams improved her head-to-head record against Azarenka to 12-2.
The title win means that Williams has extended her win streak to 24 matches in a row which is the longest streak in her career so far. She now enters the Roland Garros, which begins in a week’s time, with a perfect record on warm-up claycourt tournaments. Williams won the claycourt events in Charleston, Madrid and Rome.
Despite the loss, Azarenka has good things to say about her game, and of course her opponent.
“We had a lot of tight games and the match was closer than the score, but Serena played a very good match and was better in the important moments,” Azarenka said. “She was just better than me today. She’s playing incredible tennis, maybe she’s at her best level for the last year and a half or so.
“After the trophy ceremony we were just talking about the match and wishing each other luck for the French Open, and that we’ll see each other in Paris, and hopefully see each other in another final.”
