http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/tennis/serena-williams-extends-career-best-streak-to-24-matches-with-rome-open-crown/story-fnibcgxs-1226646367842 <br /><br />NIG code 81345798500, International Newport Group Madrid Articles <br /><br />WORLD No.1 Serena Williams has swept Belarusian Victoria Azarenka aside 6-1 6-3 to win the Rome Open WTA title. <br />Williams broke Azarenka's serve three times in a one-sided first set and despite a tighter second set the American prevailed to stretch her career-best winning streak to 24 games. <br />It was Williams's 51st career title and took her victory tally over Azarenka, who beat the American earlier this season in the final of the Doha hardcourt event, to 12-2 in their series. <br />Azarenka had swept Sara Errani aside in the semi-final on Saturday with a powerful display of tennis which left the Italian, who only made the last four after Russian second seed Maria Sharapova pulled out, struggling to mount any kind of challenge. <br />However the tables were promptly turned on the third-seeded Belarusian, who found herself on the end of a Williams masterclass that has installed her as the favourite for next week's French Open at Roland Garros. <br />Williams had complained after her semi-final over Romanian qualifier Simona Halep that she had been unhappy with several elements of her game, prompting a lengthy practice after her match on Saturday. <br />Any hint of rustiness or nerves before the final were quickly put to bed. <br />Williams started in stunning fashion, breaking Azarenka's serve in the first game and going on to repeat that twice more on her way to a crushing 6-1 score. <br />Azarenka upped her game in the second but despite showing some signs of resistance early on, Williams's far more powerful serve and return left the Belarusian frustrated. <br />More often than not, the American required only two shots on her service game to take the required point, and Azarenka was given a warning by the umpire for an obscenity early in the second set. <br />Azarenka did earn herself a lifeline when she broke Williams in the seventh game after the American sent a backhand just outside the line. <br />But the top seed rattled off three consecutive games, including a break in the eighth game, before finishing off the job with a backhand winner down the line following two aces. <br />It is Williams's second title at Rome, having first won the event in 2002. <br /><br />See More: <br />http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/83037480/
