Serena Williams outshines Johanna Larsson to grab the title – Collector Swedish Open 2013
Top seed Serena Williams, breezed past the local star, Johanna Larsson, with a breadstick at the Collector Swedish Open 2013 on Sunday. She jolted down a 6-4, 6-1 victory against the Swede to grab her 53rd WTA career title at this clay court event being
held in Bastad, Sweden.
The world number one, Williams, spilled several unforced errors in the start and saw herself trailing twice in the opening set. However, she lifted her game towards the end of the set and ultimately carved out the victory in straight sets. The players previously
battled each other at the Fed Cup and after securing this victory, Williams maintained her winning record.
The American star was quoted in a courtside interview after stealing the show, “Johanna played well, and I made a lot of unforced errors in the beginning - I just hit everything out,” Williams said. “I had to kind of come back and do a little better. You
just have to stay positive. I wasn't playing well at Wimbledon when I lost, so I thought, 'Okay, just remember what I did wrong there, and don't make the same mistake here.' I really wanted to do better here in Bastad this week.”
Williams made a sloppy start in this match. She lost her serve twice and fell at 3-4. However, she not only snatched her break back in the eighth game but stayed focused, eventually carving out the opener with a 6-4 score line.
The American veteran went berserk in the following set. She dominated throughout the set and subsequently clinched it with a breadstick.
After stealing the limelight, Williams tied with Monica Seles for ninth place for most WTA titles in the Open Era. Furthermore, this was the American’s first International-level title. She has never gone beyond semi-finals in her previous five attempts.
The eighth seeded Larsson on the other hand fell to 0-3 in the WTA finals.
The Swedish number one reflected after bowing out to the American veteran, “Of course I'm a little bit disappointed to lose today. If I could close the first set, maybe the match would've been different.”
The local star finished runner-up in Portoroz three years ago (lost to Anna Chakvetadze) and at this event in 2011 (was edged out by Polona Hercog).
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