By Erik Gudris | Saturday, March 29, 2014

 

Serena Williams overcame a slow start versus Li Na to win 11 out of 12 games down the stretch. The result? A record seventh Sony Open title.

Photo Credit: Christopher Levy

Serena Williams answered any doubt as to who is the best women's tennis player right now with a resounding victory to claim her seventh Sony Open title. And if there was any debate as to who her potential rival might be for the rest of this season, No. 2 seed Li Na certainly laid claim to that distinction. At least for a set.

Both women opened the final with ragged starts partially brought on by the windy conditions. Williams couldn't perfect the ball toss to her potent serve while Li would construct a winning rally only to hit the next shot well out. Li earned an early break lead and managed to hold on to it despite a sluggish Williams threatening, but then missing out, on several break point chances.

Up 4-2, Li felt pressure again from Williams who started to find the range on her serve. Down 0-40, Williams forced her way back to deuce. A fine backhand volley from Li earned her yet another break point that she converted after Williams tossed in a bad double fault.

Now ahead 5-2, the first set looked all but secured for Li. Except Williams kept hanging around.

A fired up Williams broke Li in the next game with a deep return and then held serve for 5-4. That put pressure on Li to close out the set in what would be the key game of the match.

Li would hold a set point only to see Williams save it with a massive down the line backhand winner. Williams roared after striking a perfect forehand return to then create break point. Li fought it off with a big serve but then faced another bigger return from Williams in the nearly 12 minute game. Another huge return from Williams found her back on level terms at 5-all.

Li played well. But as she has done so often in her career, Williams found that extra gear few can ever match. Williams would say later this was the moment that she finally relaxed. After that, the result was never in doubt.

Williams held serve at love for 6-5 and though Li threatened to force a tiebreak in the next game, it never happened. On her third set point, Williams hit a dipping shot that landed just at Li's feet as she charged forwards. Li would net the ball and allowed Williams to celebrate taking the set 7-5.

The second set found Li not willing to give up in the early games. But with Williams fully engaged now, the only question that remained was if Li could answer the challenge. Up 2-1, Williams forced herself to deuce after Li held 40-0 on her serve. Williams hit a clean passing shot winner to set up break point. Li then hit out on the next point to give Williams a 3-1 lead.

Though making a final stand in the remaining moments of the match, Li would surrender her serve again to give Williams a double break advantage. Despite struggling with her first serve for most of the afternoon, Williams thundered several massive deliveries in the last game to emphasize that she was certainly in control.

With a final big serve, Williams celebrated the 7-5, 6-1 win that gave her a record seventh Miami title, the most for any man or woman during the event's history.

Williams managed to win despite only serving at 42% and striking only three aces. Williams kept her winners and unforced errors even at 29 each. Li struck 16 winners and 37 unforced.

"I don't think tennis is like can totally control, you know. It's like everyone is the same. Only one racquet. You have to see who is play better that day. So even other opponent, I don't think I can totally control there," Li said later when asked about losing her early lead.

While Williams admitted later she didn't "flip a switch" on purpose, she did find the crowd support late in the first set a big help.

"Then I remember really some of the crowd was so intense. I thought, Wow, they really want to see a good match, I've got to try harder, I've got to do better. That really helped me a lot."

On facing Li, who shares the same age as Williams, the champion mused she only looks forward to the next meeting.

"We're playing great tennis and we're both 1 and 2 and, you know, we're both the same age. For me, it was just an honor to be there with her. We have had…we are living the same life, and at this stage, to be on top, I don't think it's been done before and I think it's really awesome."

Just before the match ended, ESPN's Darren Cahill remarked that the Sony Open is one of the few tour events that doesn't have the host city's name written on court. Cahill mused that perhaps "Serena" should be inscribed on the court. With her seventh title at what she considers a "home" event, that perhaps isn't such a bad idea after all.