Serena Williams won the 600,000-dollar WTA Bangalore Open on Sunday, giving the world number 11 her first title of the year on her maiden visit to India.
Williams defeated Patty Schnyder of Switzerland 7-5, 6-3 in a final lasting an hour and 25 minutes to pocket the winner's purse of 95,000 dollars and 275 points with her 29th career title.
The 12th-ranked Schnyder, who tasted defeat after winning three of her last four matches against Williams, took home 51,000 dollars and 190 points from India's richest tennis event.
"It was so nice being in India and winning the title made it even better," said the third-seeded American, who had beaten elder sister Venus in the semi-finals on Saturday.
"A week back I was not even sure I will be able to play, so to win my first title of the year makes it a very special visit." Schnyder, seeded fourth, admitted Williams was too strong on the day.
"I tried my best but lost it in the second set," the Swiss said. "Hopefully we will meet again this year and I will be able to beat her. "This was my first visit to India and I loved it. I am sure I will be back next year."
The final of the tier-two event, watched by 1,000 fans, was marked by erratic serving by both players. They traded a break each in the sixth and seventh games before Williams broke once again in the 12th to wrap up the first set in 45 minutes.
The second set saw breaks in the first three games as both players struggled with their serves before Schnyder held her own in the fourth to lead 3-1. Williams broke back in the sixth to level the scores at 3-3, broke again in the eighth to make it 5-3 and then held her own serve in the ninth to win the match.
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