Serena Williams topples Maria Sharapova in final showdown – TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships 2012
In a clash between two former world number one stars, America’s Serena Williams stomped over Russia’s Maria Sharapova in straight sets at the TEB BNP Paribas WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) Championships 2012 on Sunday. She jolted down a 6-4, 6-3 victory
against the Russian number one to capture her seventh year-to-date title at this event taking place between top eight players of the circuit in Istanbul, Turkey.
Seeded third in this event, Williams displayed flawless tennis to outsmart the 25-year-old in their 12th outing. After stealing the show in one hour and 29 minutes, the American improved to a 10-2 lifetime in the head-to-head series against Sharapova
and grabbed her 46th career title.
The jubilant American stated in a courtside interview after crushing Sharapova:
"I actually thought about the last time we played at the WTA Championships, and she won, and she's also ranked ahead of me right now, so I really had nothing to lose. I feel great right now. This was exactly my dream and I'm so happy I was able to achieve
it. And the Turkish fans here are so amazing, so nice and so supportive - I've never seen so many signs with my name on them. I can't even explain how that makes me feel."
Williams, who completed her Career Golden Grand Slam after crushing Sharapova in the finals of London Olympics 2012, stormed into the Sinan Erdem Dome. She quickly slid her entire serves without encountering any trouble. The American got the breakthrough
in the fifth game after cashing one out of three break chances and eventually clicked the opener with a 6-4 win.
Ranked third in the world, Williams maintained her intensity in the following set. She broke her rival’s serve in the opening game and took the initial lead. The veteran then held her composure and plucked her entire serves with conviction. She availed another
break chance in the last game and subsequently sealed the set by winning six games to three.
Summing up the winning star’s performance, Williams ruled throughout the battle. She struck 11 aces and despite producing a slightly lower first serve share of 68 per cent as compared to her rival’s 70 per cent, the American superbly marked 33 out of 48
points on it.
The 31-year-old reached the final spot without losing a single set. She triumphed over the like of the world number one Victoria Azarenka, fifth seeded Angelique Kerber and the Asian number one, Na Li from China. In the semi-finals, Williams conquered the
Polish number one Agnieszka Radwanska with a breadstick to set up this date.
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