Serena wins 7th title in comeback year

29 Oct 2012, 3:05 pm   -   Source: AAP
Serena Williams capped off a brilliant 2012 tennis season by claiming the WTA Championships title. (AAP)

Serena Williams capped off a brilliant 2012 tennis season by claiming the WTA Championships title. (AAP)

Serena Williams has completed her sensational 2012 comeback by winning the WTA Championships in Istanbul for the third time.

Serena Williams beat Maria Sharapova 6-4 6-3 on Sunday to win the WTA Championships for the third time to completed her sensational 2012 comeback with another title.

"Now that I can be honest, I really wanted to win," Williams said.

"I wanted it so bad but I didn't want to say it ... It was really important for me to end the year with this title in particular."

Williams ended the year with a 59-4 record. Since her first-round loss at the French Open, the American is 31-1, winning Wimbledon, the Olympic gold medal and the US Open.

Williams, who has battled back to the top of her game after battling injury and a life-threatening illness, said 2012 was just as good as 2002 and 2003 when she completed the "Serena Slam" of all four grand slams.

"It's awesome. To come back after being in the hospital, I feel so happy whether I win or lose," said the American veteran.

French Open champion Sharapova praised Williams, a player she hasn't beaten for over eight years.

"She had another great serving day against me," said the Russian who didn't have any break-points in the match.

"Maybe it was partly me not doing enough on the returns and partly she was serving well.

"But that's one of the reasons she's such a great champion and has had a tremendous amount of success in her career."

Williams ends the year ranked No.3 behind Sharapova and top-player Victoria Azarenka.

In 2001 and '09 Williams also won the elite, year-end tournament that brings together the top eight players in the world.

Williams finished the this year's tournament without dropping a set and she also beat Azarenka in round-robin play, one of her four wins against the No.1 this year.

"If I'm playing well and doing everything right, it's pretty difficult to beat me, without trying to sound too full of myself," Williams said.

"And I hate to lose."

The American has not lost to a player ranked in the top two since 2007 having won 12 straight matches against the world's No.1 and No.2 in that time.

Williams also became the oldest player, at age 31, to win the year-end championships and has seven titles this year.

But despite dominating the tour in the past few months, injuries and illness marred the start of Williams year.

Shortly after winning Wimbledon two years ago, Williams cut her feet on glass at a restaurant, leading to a series of health problems, including being hospitalised for clots in her lungs.

She also injured her ankle at the start of the year in Brisbane.

Williams last finished the year as No.1 in 2009. She has held the No.1 ranking for a total of 123 weeks.

  • Follow us: 
  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on Youtube