By Chris Oddo | Sunday, May 18, 2014

 

Serena Williams defended the Rome title today, taking down Sara Errani, 6-3, 6-0, for her 60th career title.
 

Serena Williams defended her Internazionali BNL d'Italia title in Rome on Sunday, taking down Sara Errani, 6-3, 6-0 in a one-sided final. As the first Italian finalist at the Italian Open since 1985, Errani held her own in the first set, rebounding from a 3-0 deficit to get back on serve temporarily at 4-3.

But a double-whammy occurred in the next game, as Williams broke Errani to serve for the set as the Italian suffered an injury to her left hip flexor. With Williams leading 5-3, Errani went off court for a medical timeout.

She would return with heavy strapping on the left thigh, and would not win another game.

Williams notches her third Rome title with the victory. The previous two times she has won in Rome (2002, 2013) the American has also gone on to win in Roland Garros.

The title is Williams' 60th overall and 11th title on clay, which is most among active WTA players.

Williams is now a remarkable 60-17 in career finals. She improves to 23-3 for 2014 and becomes the only WTA player to have notched three titles with the win in Rome.

The 17-time Grand Slam champion connected on seven aces and 31 winners on the afternoon, and broke the Italian's serve five times on seven opportunities.

She clinched the match with a backhand down the line and muted her celebration out of respect for her injured opponent.

Williams spoke to the crowd in Italian briefly, congratulating Errani for her run to the final and saying she was sorry that she couldn't be at 100 percent, which brought warm applause from the packed house on Court Centrale.

Afterwards she thanked her team for helping to keep her body together.