Serena Williams ends 9-month title drought

Serena Williams has had a 7-6 (5) 6-3 win over Madison Keys at the Italian Open final to end a nine-month title drought.

Serena Williams (pic) and Madison Keys will face off in an all-American final at the Italian Open. (AAP)

Serena Williams has ended a nine-month title drought with a 7-6 (5) 6-3 win over Madison Keys in an all-American Italian Open final on Sunday.

Williams' previous title came in Cincinnati in August - a month before her attempt at a calendar-year Grand Slam ended with a semifinal loss to Roberta Vinci at the US Open.

It's Williams' fourth title in Rome and it comes exactly a week before the French Open begins.

It was the first time two American women have met in a final on clay since Serena beat older sister Venus in the 2002 French Open.

The last all-American final in Rome was in 1970, when Billie Jean King beat Julie Heldman.