Wild fans and happy players

The supportive and enthusiastic home crowd was undoubtedly one of the most memorable parts of the WTA Championships for the players in Istanbul.

A record 16,410 spectators packed the Sinan Erdem Dome, holding flags and banners and cheering wildly throughout the final.

"I've said throughout the whole tournament that I feel like this has been the best Championships that I've been a part of," said Maria Sharapova, who lost to Serena Williams 6-4, 6-3, in the final.

"Maybe it wasn't completely sold out in the first round, but as the week went on, just the excitement from the people, from the second they call your name when you're walking out... it's pretty incredible as an athlete to have that sort of positive energy without even hitting a ball."

"The appreciation you have from people's understanding and respect of what you do is really unique. I think we were really all unsure of how was it going to go in Istanbul because we never really had such a big tennis event. But I think we're all really happy and we will be here for another year."

Williams' victory in Istanbul was her ninth consecutive over Sharapova. The Russian's last win over Williams was eight years ago, when a 17-year-old Sharapova stunned a 23-year-old Williams in the WTA final.

Williams agreed that the fans were impressive.

"You see the sold-out crowd and it's completely packed, and you see all the signs and people sitting on the stairs with no seats just filling in the arena even more," said Williams, who served 11 aces in the final. "It's cool, really cool.

"I'll probably remember the fans, how amazing and excited they were. The karaoke sign, the guy had the sign that said, 'Are we going to karaoke tonight?' He knows I'm a big karaoke addict. I'll remember all those things."

Williams captured her 14th and 15th Grand Slam titles this year, at Wimbledon and the US Open. The American said it was her second-best season.

"I think it's been a great season," the 31-year-old said. "I have to say No 2 only because I didn't have two Grand Slams in the beginning.

"I beat my record for 2002 match-wise, but I didn't do so well at the French Open obviously, or in Australia. But it's close, really neck and neck."

The three-time year-end Championships winner made no effort to mask her self-confidence.

"I always said that if I'm playing well and I'm doing everything right, it's really difficult to beat me," said Williams, who has been labelled by Li Na as being unbeatable when she is at the top of her game.

"I think it's a true statement, without trying to sound full of myself or anything."

tangzhe@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 10/30/2012 page23)