Serena takes first set 6-3 in Wimbledon final
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The defending champion opened confidently with a rock-solid service game to love, and the Russian's nerves will have settled after leveling at 1-1 in front of a packed Center Court crowd on a warm, overcast day at the All England Club.
Zvonareva took the American top seed to deuce in game three before Serena clinched it with a third ace.
The first signs of pressure on the 21st seed came in the sixth game when three forehand errors gave Williams the first break point of the match.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}But Zvonareva hit a pinpoint forehand into the corner to fend that off, and then a netted return from Williams made it 3-3.
The decisive breakthrough came in game eight when a double fault from Zvonareva took the game to deuce before a long backhand from the Russian gave Williams another break point.
The American smacked her racket into the ground in frustration when she netted a backhand return but a superb lob after a lucky netcord gave Williams another break point.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}After lashing a winning forehand down the line, she celebrated with a fist pump and on bended knee.
Zvonareva earned her first break point of the match in game nine but Williams clung on and a long forehand gave Serena the first set after 36 minutes.
(Editing by Miles Evans)