ESPN.com - TENNIS - Williams beats top-seed Capriati in 3 sets

 
Sunday, August 19
Williams beats top-seed Capriati in 3 sets



TORONTO -- Serena Williams served notice that she's back in Grand Slam form with a 6-1, 6-7 (7), 6-3 victory Sunday over Jennifer Capriati in the Rogers AT&T Cup championship match.

The 19-year-old Williams, who had to pull out of last year's final in Montreal against Martina Hingis in the third set due to a foot injury, recovered from a rain interruption of almost 3 hours and a tense tiebreaker loss to win her second WTA title this summer.

"This win is really gratifying for me," Williams said. "To come through as a winner this year, just a step farther, is really satisfying. I really needed the win."

Williams broke a string of four straight losses to the top-seeded Capriati, who ousted her from the Wimbledon quarterfinals in their last meeting.

"I think Serena played really well. She came up with a few big ones at important times," Capriati said. "I felt pressure to hold my serve. She was also returning well. Probably the difference was her serve game."

Capriati will be the No. 2-ranked player in the world next week in the WTA rankings. Williams has to be considered a favorite to win the 2001 U.S. Open later this month. She won the event in 1999.

Williams won $178,000 Sunday.

Since winning the Tennis Masters Series at Indian Wells in March, Williams had lost in the quarterfinals of four straight events. That included three straight losses to Capriati at the Ericsson Open, French Open and Wimbledon.

"If I have to play Jennifer at the U.S. Open, this win will be behind us," Williams said. "I am going home to work hard and make sure I do everything I can so I won't have to struggle."

The highlight of the tournament was easily Williams' semifinal match against Monica Seles on Saturday night, with both players hammering the ball hard and the crowd cheering for more of it.

The WTA said Capriati's finish will regain her career-high No. 2 world ranking this week. Williams will stay at No. 10.

"There's a few things I would like to improve," Capriati said of her preparation for the U.S. Open. "My serve, making a better first serve percentage and just different things that I know that I have to do. I am really looking forward to the Open and hopefully there I'll come out with better tennis."

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