Serena thumps Halep in WTA Finals
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Singapore (SportsNetwork.com) - Serena Williams avenged an earlier loss and captured the season-ending WTA Finals trophy with a scorching defeat of Simona Halep on Sunday.
The two had met earlier this week in round-robin play, and the 6-0, 6-2 Halep rout in 65 minutes equaled the worst loss of Williams' career.
Williams, though, returned the favor on Sunday as she blitzed the Romanian 6-3, 6-0 in just 69 minutes for her 64th career title and fifth title at this event.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The 33-year-old American has won the past three WTA Finals titles, and also claimed the crown here in 2009 and 2001. She finished as a runner-up in 2002 and 2004.
Williams had already clinched the year-end No. 1 ranking on Friday and improved to 4-1 against Halep in her career.
At first it appeared that Halep was up to the task in the rematch, taking the first two games in the first set.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Williams, though, rallied to win six of the next seven, then breezed in the second set to ensure there would be no repeat of the round-robin defeat.
"She was playing so well at the beginning and I told myself to just relax and once I did that I started playing better and making my shots," said Williams.
Halep fell to 8-6 all-time in finals, including 2-3 this year.