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Serena Williams beats Li Na for Sony Open title

Updated: 2014-03-30 09:23 (China Daily)
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Serena Williams beats Li Na for Sony Open title

Serena Williams (right) holds the championship trophy as Li Na (left) holds the runner-up trophy after the final of the Sony Open at Crandon Tennis Center. Williams won 7-5, 6-1. [Photo/Agencies]

KEY BISCAYNE, Florida - Serena Williams won a record seventh Key Biscayne title Saturday when she overcame a slow start and a set point to beat Li Na 7-5, 6-1 at the Sony Open.

Williams surpassed the tournament record of six titles she shared with Andre Agassi. But on a muggy spring afternoon, the No. 1-ranked Williams looked sluggish at the outset and served poorly, and she was broken twice to fall behind 5-2.

"At that moment I felt like I had nothing to lose," Williams said. "I just was able to relax. Whenever I relax, I enjoy myself."

Li held a set point serving at 5-4, but Williams erased it with a backhand winner.

Williams needed another 21 minutes to pull out the set. The final game of the set went to deuce six times, but she finally won it with a booming backhand that Li couldn't handle.

Williams ran to her chair with a satisfied scream, her left fist leading the way. She dominated from there, sweeping the final five games, and closed out the victory with a service winner.

After a succession of happy hops, she was twirling, waving, laughing and mugging for the camera _ a familiar ritual from a familiar champion.

"I think we're going to have to rename this tournament," former top-five player Mary Joe Fernandez said during the trophy ceremony.

It's a commentary on the yawning gap between Williams and the rest of the women's tour that she won in straight sets against the No. 2-ranked player while playing less than her best. She made only 44 percent of her first serves and converted just five of 17 break-point chances.

Even so, Williams extended her winning streak against top-10 opponents to 15 matches.

Serena Williams beats Li Na for Sony Open title

Serena Williams beats Li Na for Sony Open title

Serena Williams beats Li Na for Sony Open title

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