Serena wins fifth WTA Finals title

Four days after experiencing one of the heaviest defeats of her career, World No.1 tennis player Serena Williams got her revenge by crushing fourth-ranked Simona Halep of Romania 6-3, 6-0 to win her third straight WTA Finals title at the Singapore Indoor Stadium here Sunday.

Serena endured her heaviest defeat in 16 years Oct 22, losing 0-6, 2-6 to Simona in a women's singles round robin match but brushed aside the disappointment to claim the season-ending event for the fifth time, a total bettered only by legendary Martina Navratilova thereby confirming to finish the year on top of the rankings.

The American overcame a slow start to blow away Simona amid a whirlwind of winners.

"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," Serena was quoted as saying to wtafinals.com.

"I lost to her a couple of days ago so I knew she was capable of playing really well. But I knew I had to play better if I wanted to win. I wasn't even sure if I'd be able to play here and now I've won the Billie Jean King Trophy again - it's an amazing feeling."

Early in the match, it looked like Simona could repeat her round robin heroics, negating her opponent's greater power, breaking for a 2-1 lead with a trademark down-the-line backhand.

The defending champion, however, had other ideas, elevating her game and unleashing a series of withering returns to restore parity.

With the errors that blighted their first encounter nowhere to be seen, Serena began to increase pressure, a delightful touch at the net helping her to the decisive break before closing out the set with a couple of aces.

The form continued in the second set with the American ruthlessly punishing any second serve and attacking at the net with increasing regularity. Simona seemed powerless in the face of this assault and after just 69 minutes Serena smashed away one final winner.