Serena Williams overcame an injury scare on Tuesday during a winning start to her bid to cap a brilliant comeback season by regaining the WTA Championship title.
The Wimbledon, US Open and Olympic champion appeared to pull a gluteal muscle attempting a retrieve in the first set but played through the discomfort to win 6-4, 6-1 against Angelique Kerber, a debutant in this elite eight event
.
Williams’ tenacious efforts thus earned her revenge over the improving German left-hander, who upset her in their last meeting, at Cincinnati in August, and who had her moments early on this time too. The unofficial favourite nevertheless denied that she had suffered any problems, saying: ‘I feel like I am moving fine, getting a lot of balls back, being really defensive, running down drop shots really easily.’
Earlier the chances of the title changing hands increased significantly when Petra Kvitova, the defending champion, produced a disappointing performance to lose 6-3, 6-2 to Agnieszka Radwanska, the Wimbledon finalist. It was the first time in four meetings that the Czech had lost to the Pole.
Maria Sharapova beat Sara Errani 6-3, 6-2.
The Wimbledon, US Open and Olympic champion appeared to pull a gluteal muscle attempting a retrieve in the first set but played through the discomfort to win 6-4, 6-1 against Angelique Kerber, a debutant in this elite eight event
.
Williams’ tenacious efforts thus earned her revenge over the improving German left-hander, who upset her in their last meeting, at Cincinnati in August, and who had her moments early on this time too. The unofficial favourite nevertheless denied that she had suffered any problems, saying: ‘I feel like I am moving fine, getting a lot of balls back, being really defensive, running down drop shots really easily.’
Earlier the chances of the title changing hands increased significantly when Petra Kvitova, the defending champion, produced a disappointing performance to lose 6-3, 6-2 to Agnieszka Radwanska, the Wimbledon finalist. It was the first time in four meetings that the Czech had lost to the Pole.
Maria Sharapova beat Sara Errani 6-3, 6-2.