Serena Williams beats Li Na for WTA title
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E-mail China.org.cn, October 28, 2013
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Serena Williams rallied to successfully defend her WTA Championships title with a three set victory over Li Na in Istanbul. |
Serena Williams ended her best season in style, fighting back superbly to beat Li Na 2-6 6-3 6-0 and retain her WTA Championships title.
The American, winning her 11th title of the season, dropped the first set 6-2 but hit back to level the match 6-3 before running away with the decider 6-0.
Williams has won 78 of 82 matches this year and will finish the year as the top-ranked player for the third time in her career after 2002 and 2009.
China's Li was in her first WTA Championship final and will finish the year at a career-high No. 3.
In the first WTA final between two players over 30, Li made a confident start to take the opening set against Williams, who was showing signs of fatigue.
Williams won a key game at the start of the second set that went to nine deuces and lasted nearly 12 minutes as the American fended off two break points before finally prevailing with a service winner.
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Li Na returned a ball to Serena Williams. |
Li blasted an ace, her only one of the match, to level at 3-3. But she produced a double-fault and a forehand error to give Williams a chance to serve out the set, which she did at the third attempt.
Another double-fault by Li gave Williams a break of serve at the start of the third set and the 17-time Grand Slam winner swiftly completed her 10th win in 11 matches against the Chinese star.
"It's been a really long year, I'm really excited as I didn't think I was going to get through this," said Williams.
"I can't believe I won, I was so tired. She played so well. It's such a special moment to finish the year as No 1 and to win the title in the 40th year of the WTA."
Li, 31, who served 10 double faults in total, said: "I was feeling maybe the start of the match was too exciting. So after one and a half sets I was feeling I had no more energy left."
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