Serena Williams defends Italian Open crown by beating Sara Errani in final

Serena Williams (L) of the US poses with the trophy after winning the WTA Rome’s Tennis Masters final against Sara Errani (R) of Italy on May 18, 2014, at the Foro Italico in Rome. Williams won 6-3, 6-0.

Rome, May 19 (IANS): Top ranked Serena Williams beat 10th seed Sara Errani 6-3, 6-0 to win her third Italian Open tennis title here.

Williams thwarted Errani’s bid to become the first Italian to win the tournament in nearly 30 years by quickly taking control of both sets here Sunday, reports Xinhua.

Errani appeared to have suffered a left thigh problem, and left the court to have her thigh bandaged while trailing 5-3 in the opening set.

“Sara played really well in the first set. She was doing everything right and I could tell she had obviously improved since our last meeting in Paris last year,” Williams said.

“It was unfortunate she got injured in the last game of the set, but overall I thought she was playing really well out there,” she added.

Williams also won in Rome in 2002 as well as last year, before she went on to win the French Open on both occasions.