Different Continent, Same Serena: Williams Wins Bank of the West Title

By Chris Oddo

Photo Credit: Matthew Stockman/ Getty

Serena Williams Bank of the West 12 Matthew Stockman

(July 15, 2012)--20-year-old American Coco Vandeweghe was having the perfect week at the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, California--until Serena Williams stole the show.

Williams notched her 43rd career WTA title with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Vandeweghe, tying her sister Venus for the all-time lead among active players.

"What else does she have that you want?" commentator Sam Gore asked in reference to the fact that Serena tied Venus with five Wimbledon singles titles last week.

"I don't know. I love her dog, but she won't give him up," Williams joked.

But the afternoon wasn't lighthearted at the start. After dropping behind 2-0, the powerful, big-serving Vandeweghe looked to be in position to pull an upset when she broke Williams in the seventh game, then held easily in the next game for a 5-3 lead.

The 14-time Grand Slam champion eventually rallied back to level the set after shrugging off a set point against her and five missed break point opportunities in a crucial tenth game.

"She played so well," Williams said of her opponent. "Obviously her serve is really strong. She's just doing everything well. Her strokes are beautiful."

Beautiful or not, Vandeweghe couldn't close the set, even though she was two points from doing so with Williams serving in the next game; then she had a set point while serving for the set at 5-4.

Instead the steady, controlled aggression of the Williams game ended up getting to the first-time finalist.

Vandeweghe double faulted to hand Williams the break, and Williams--greedy champion that she is--took this as her cue to march unmolested to victory.

After closing out the first set, Williams dialed in her serve for the second set, winning 19 of 20 points first serve points.

She did not face a break point in the final set.

"My serve was a little off yesterday, so I was like... I have to go figure it out and try to do a little better," Williams said.

Record-Breaking Errani Wins Fourth WTA Title of 2012 in Palermo

The magical mystery clay-court tour known as Sara Errani rumbled through Palermo this week, and when all was said and done, the world No. 9 emerged with yet another title, and bragging rights among her fellow Italians as well.

Errani's fourth title of the year is the most in history by an Italian. After winning at Acapulco, Barcelona and Budapest earlier this season, Errani trampled the field at Palermo, losing only 20 games in five matches, and dominating fifth-seeded Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-1, 6-3 in the final.

"It wasn't as easy as the score looks," said Errani afterwards.

Errani passed Robert Vinci's record of three titles--set last year--with her title. "It's a magic period for me," said the French Open finalist.

The one-sided loss in the final by Zahlavova Strycova was tempered by the fact that she had already won her 17th career doubles title on saturday, alongside Renata Voracova.