DOHA, Qatar (AP) -- Serena Williams said she didn't arrive at the Sony Ericsson Championships expecting to win.Plenty of other people did that for her.
Williams bested big sister Venus again Sunday, winning 6-2, 7-6 (4) in the season-ending tournament for her third victory of the season. Williams also won Wimbledon and the Australian Open, and clinched the year-end No. ranking earlier in the week.
"It feels great," said Serena, who also won the WTA Tour's season-ending event in 2001. "I totally didn't expect to come here and win."
Serena broke twice in the first set and lost only seven points on serve. She looked sharper than Venus in every facet of a match that featured few long rallies and only a glimmer of the spectacular tennis the two have provided in some of their previous meetings.
Serena sealed the match with a crosscourt forehand winner and celebrated with a simple fist pump before hugging her sister at the net.
"I don't think I returned as well as I wanted to," said Venus, the defending champion, who played four late-night matches that each lasted three sets during the week. "Sometimes I made her service games a bit too easy."
It was Serena's fourth straight win over her sister. She also beat Venus in the round-robin stage of the Doha tournament, the Wimbledon final and the semifinals in Miami this year. She leads their head-to-head record 13-10.
"Playing a final against Venus is really tough," Serena said. "Even though she wasn't really feeling great, she kept hitting every ball back.
"I haven't won a tournament that wasn't a Grand Slam in a while, so that was even more exciting," she added. "My losing streak in (other) tournaments is over."
Serena earned $1.55 million for the win after finishing the event undefeated, bringing her total prize money for the year to a record $6.19 million. Justine Henin had the previous record of $5.43 million in 2007.
The tournament featured the eight top-ranked women in the world divided into two groups, with the semifinalists decided by a round-robin stage.
Venus lost two of her three round-robin matches but still advanced. She then rallied for a three-set win over Jelena Jankovic on Saturday but looked sluggish from the start in the final.
"It was the end of the season, so I have no complaints," Venus said about her fitness level. "You have to show up and play no matter what. So that had nothing to do with it."
Venus played with her left knee strapped while Serena had strapping on her left thigh.
"We definitely weren't physically 100 percent out there today," said Serena, a day after pulling out of next weekend's Fed Cup final against Italy. "Right now, I'm just struggling in every aspect of my body."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-01-2009 @ 8:09PM
safee45 said...
Just a sign of what's coming in 2010. More Williams Sisters Finals! Just too much game for the wanabees!
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11-01-2009 @ 8:19PM
wayne said...
The william sisters are the best tennis players in the world.America should thank God for them.Serena is the number #1 player in the world
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11-01-2009 @ 9:59PM
Sieben said...
Congratulations Ladies, a well deserved title for Serena you are truly #1 ,there should be no doubt as to who is # 1
11-02-2009 @ 4:11PM
realgeewhiz said...
As much as I love tennis, I am glad its over. The schedule is too hard on the players, the writers(Greg Couch), and the fans. It ended well with the Williams sisters, the only ones really representing the USA as it should be, besides Serena's meltdown. Go Williams sisters. Go USA! We need new blood!.
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11-02-2009 @ 6:36PM
safee45 said...
I guess CMA & Imustbegoingnow are blogging on the cartoon network! Thats where they belong!!!
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11-02-2009 @ 7:22PM
imustbegoingnow said...
Good, now the season is over. We eagerly await the decesion as to what serena's punishment will be for her threats against that line judge who was just doing her job, at the US Open.
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11-03-2009 @ 12:35PM
Ella said...
imustbegoingnow, your screenname said it all about you, for your information Serena has already paid a fined. Serena is rank #1 which she earned and penalty free, and it is not a thing you can do about it.
11-04-2009 @ 7:08AM
imustbegoingnow said...
ella, you seem to have forgotten or maybe you ignored the news, the governing body of tennis was waiting until after the season was over to make a final decision on whether or not to fine serena more for her criminal attack against that line judge and maybe to even suspend her for a while. If they suspend her, she will lose that oh so precious number one ranking.
Speaking of which, how many players were ranked number one in the last 5 years? Each and everyone of them deserved it, they played and won points. That is what the number one ranking means, not how many Majors they won. It is possible that a part time player could win all four Majors in one year, highly unlikely I admit, and still not be ranked number one.
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11-04-2009 @ 2:20PM
Sieben said...
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING "CRIMINAL ACT "????????????? Lets stop the foolishness and have the #1 ranking meaning what it should mean THE # 1 Player on the circuit, That's what # 1 should stand for. Would they have DARED called McEnroes actions CRIMINAL ???????
11-04-2009 @ 2:59PM
imustbegoingnow said...
Yes, a criminal act, she threatened the judge with physical violence, "If I could I would take this f****** ball and shove it down your f****** throat." That is assualt, plain and simple. Shaking her racquet at Yes, a criminal act, she threatened the judge with physical violence, "If I could I would take this f****** ball and shove it down your f****** throat." That is assault, plain and simple. Shaking her racquet at the poor lady added to the offense. Did McEnroe ever threaten to do physical harm to a judge, or referee? As far as I know, all her ever did was call them names. Big difference there, don't you think?
Number one does stand for number one on the circuit. The way the system is set up, that ranking is reached by points earned, the more points a player has, the higher their ranking. How would you have it done? Give the ranking to the player who is your favorite, just because you think they are the best? That is right up there with the ridiculous BCS rankings in football. Just because a player wins a Major or two in a season does not mean they are the best does it? Of course not. Majors are just another tournament and anyone can win one. You have to look at a whole season, and the best way to do that is the points system that is in place now.the poor lady added to the offense. Did McEnroe ever threaten to do physical harm to a judge, or referee? As far as I know, all her ever did was call them names. Big difference there, don't you think?
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11-04-2009 @ 10:19PM
Sieben said...
Find out what constitute ASSAULT,Then ask McEnroe what he meant by, " I HAVE DONE WORST"Favorites have NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS, I,ll repeat myself SERENA WILLIAMS is the BEST FEMALE TENNIS player on the WPT TODAY & that's not only my opinion, but most
11-05-2009 @ 8:37AM
imustbegoingnow said...
Assault, in law, an attempt or threat, going beyond mere words, to use violence, with the intent and the apparent ability to do harm to another. If violent contact actually occurs, the offense of battery has been committed.
serena's shaking her racquet at the line judge is what makes her actions "go beyond mere words" and therefore, she committed assault. We all know she certainly has the ability to do harm to another person, just look at what she has done to so many racquets over the course of her career.
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11-05-2009 @ 10:29AM
Sieben said...
I wish you well,Those charges would NEVER STAND UP in a court of law,not even in your state of MISSISSIPPI.Just being curious, who do you believe to be the BEST womens tennis player TODAY??????