Serena claims first title since 2010 Wimbledon

Serena Williams

STANFORD, California, (Reuters) – Comeback queen  Serena Williams won her first tournament in more than a year  when she overpowered third seed Marion Bartoli of France 7-5  6-1 in the Stanford Classic final yesterday.

Serena Williams

American Williams came from 2-4 down in the opening set and  then dominated the rest of the match with booming serves and  hard groundstrokes to claim her first title since Wimbledon  last year.

The 13-times grand slam champion, who returned to the tour  in June after taking almost a year off due to injury and  illness, triumphed for the first time on home soil since her  victory at the 2008 U.S Open.

After firing down a service winner to wrap up the match in  one hour and 22 minutes, Williams skipped around the court in  joyful celebration.

“I haven’t won a tournament in forever that wasn’t a grand  slam so it’s cool,” said Williams, whose last non-major title  was the 2009 WTA Championships in Doha.

“I put a lot of work into this week. I want to take this  whole (hardcourt) swing serious. It’s a good time for me.”

    GAME DETERIORATED    

Bartoli used her vicious groundstrokes to lead 4-2 in the  first set but then suffered an injury to her right hand and her  game deteriorated as she could not grip her racket properly for  her serve and forehand. She served for the set at 5-4 but was broken when she hit a  forehand long. Williams then held and again broke the  Frenchwoman to win the set when her opponent erred on a  backhand.

Bartoli had beaten a rusty Williams in the fourth round of  Wimbledon this year but had fully expected a much tougher  challenge from the American in the Stanford Classic final.

“I knew before the match that it would be different from  Wimbledon,” said Bartoli, who suffered a bone bruise on her  hand.

“I managed to play well until my hand was disturbed, but  that doesn’t take anything away from Serena who played really  well.”

Williams won five consecutive games to take command of the  second set before ending the match with a rasping forehand  crosscourt winner followed by a 113 mph service winner.

“I never lose hope in my serve,” said Williams, who  unleashed 11 aces in the match. “Sometimes it doesn’t show up,  but I keep hitting it.

“I have an opportunity to be healthy and be here that I’m  so grateful,” added the American, who is next scheduled to play  in the WTA event in Toronto starting on Aug. 8.

Former world number one Williams, who was ranked a lowly  169th coming into this week, is projected to break into the top  80 when the new rankings are issued on Monday.