I was excited at the end: Serena

World number one wins seventh Miami title.

MIAMI: Serena Williams said she was thrilled with her victory as she snapped out of her early doldrums to roar to a record seventh Miami WTA title on Saturday with a 7-5, 6-1 win over China’s Li Na.

“I was excited at the end,” said Serena, who lives in Miami and first played the tournament as a 16-year-old.

“Obviously I wanted to have the most titles here. I guess that I’ve grown up coming to this tournament as a kid, watching so many players, and to be one of those players now is really awesome.”

In a battle of the world’s top two players, the US world number one took her tally of WTA titles to 59 — including 17 grand slam triumphs.

Trailing 4-2 in the first set, Serena fought off three break points in the seventh game only to surrender her serve for a second time on a double fault.

The seriousness of her situation woke Serena up. She won the next five games to take the set, saving a set point in the 10th game and hanging on to break Li in the 12th game that went to deuce six times.

“I really thought I could do better,” said Serena discussing being 5-2 down in the first set.

“I have been practicing all these years and I have a good return. I need to start implementing it.’”

She seized a 5-1 lead in the second set with a fierce backhand winner on her fifth break point of the game and wrapped up the contest on her first match point.

‘I don’t think I was playing badly’

Even though Li Na, reigning Australian Open champion, lost her 10th consecutive match against Williams, she said she was still satisfied with her performance in the final.

“I don’t think I was playing badly,” said Li. “I think it was a pretty good match.”

“At 5-2 up or after 5-all, I think I did exactly the same, so really there’s nothing to say because I did the best I could.”

Li’s only victory in the 12 meetings against Serena was back in 2008, but Serena said she always feels challenged by her.

“We just have this never say die attitude,” said the 32-year-old Serena. “It just goes to show that you can still shine at any age.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 31^st, 2014.

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