Serena Williams (photo ©Emmett Anderson) reached the final remaining undefeated in the round robin stage, where she defeated Angelique Kerber, Li Na and Victoria Azarenka. In the semifinals she defeated Agnieszka Radwanska. She lost no sets. She’s in her fifth WTA Championships final and won two of the four she played.
Maria Sharapova reached the final remaining undefeated in the round robin stage, where she defeated Sara Errani, Agnieszka Radwanska and Samantha Stosur. In the semifinals she defeated Victoria Azarenka. She lost one set to Agnieszka Radwanska. She’s in her third WTA Championships final and won one of the two she played.
At the beginning of the match both Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova serve well. In the fifth game, however, the Russian loses some efficiency in her service and gets broken. In the seventh game the American has two more break points but the Russian manages to win her service game. The only break is decisive and Williams wins the first set 6-4.
In the second set Serena Williams immediately breaks Maria Sharapova in the first game. The American keeps on serving very well while the Russian struggles and in the seventh game she faces another break point but manages to win her service game. In the ninth game Williams breaks Sharapova again to win the set 6-3 conquering match and tournament.
Maria Sharapova won a Grand Slam tournament again this year and for a few weeks she was no. 1 in the WTA rankings but against Serena Williams she gave the impression she’s inferior. However, she can be satisfied with her year and has reasons to start 2013 with optimism.
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Serena Williams went back to play her best after the health problems she had last year. She struggled in the early months of 2012 but this summer she won Wimbledon, the Olympic gold medal in the in the singles and also in the double tournament with her sister Venus and the U.S. Open as well. Victoria Azarenka closes 2012 at the top of the WTA rankings because she played at a high level throughout the year but in recent months Serena Williams has proven she’s the best of all.
