Serena Williams (right) holds the championship trophy as Li Na (left) holds the runner-up trophy after the final of the Sony Open at Crandon Tennis Center. Williams won 7-5, 6-1. [Photo/Agencies] |
KEY BISCAYNE, Florida - Serena Williams won a record seventh Key Biscayne title Saturday when she overcame a slow start and a set point to beat Li Na 7-5, 6-1 at the Sony Open.
Williams surpassed the tournament record of six titles she shared with Andre Agassi. But on a muggy spring afternoon, the No. 1-ranked Williams looked sluggish at the outset and served poorly, and she was broken twice to fall behind 5-2.
"At that moment I felt like I had nothing to lose," Williams said. "I just was able to relax. Whenever I relax, I enjoy myself."
Li held a set point serving at 5-4, but Williams erased it with a backhand winner.
Williams needed another 21 minutes to pull out the set. The final game of the set went to deuce six times, but she finally won it with a booming backhand that Li couldn't handle.
Williams ran to her chair with a satisfied scream, her left fist leading the way. She dominated from there, sweeping the final five games, and closed out the victory with a service winner.
After a succession of happy hops, she was twirling, waving, laughing and mugging for the camera _ a familiar ritual from a familiar champion.
"I think we're going to have to rename this tournament," former top-five player Mary Joe Fernandez said during the trophy ceremony.
It's a commentary on the yawning gap between Williams and the rest of the women's tour that she won in straight sets against the No. 2-ranked player while playing less than her best. She made only 44 percent of her first serves and converted just five of 17 break-point chances.
Even so, Williams extended her winning streak against top-10 opponents to 15 matches.
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