Former world number one Serena Williams surged past Marion Bartoli 7-5, 6-1 Sunday to win the WTA Stanford crown, her first title in more than a year, signalling her US Open intentions. Williams, a 13-time Grand Slam champion who is battling to rebuild her ranking after an injury layoff of almost a year, claimed her first title since Wimbledon 2010.
"Coming back and hearing the claps when I walk out there are moments that I truly missed," Williams said. "It's so awesome to be back and to be a part of those moments. "Not everyone can be a sports - I don't know if 'star' sounds full of myself - but I've worked hard for that title. "So, yes, I say it and I take pride in it."
The American was twice down a break in the opening set, but broke Bartoli as the French third seed served for the set at 5-4. That launched a roll of eight straight games to the American as she pocketed the first set and took a 5-0 lead in the second. After Bartoli held serve for 5-1, Williams served out the match after one hour and 22 minutes.
With the victory Williams avenged her fourth-round loss to Bartoli at Wimbledon and showed that even though her ranking has plummeted she could be a contender at the last Grand Slam of the year, the US Open that starts in New York on August 29. Williams has already elected to use an injury-protected ranking to gain entry to the US Open main draw, the US Tennis Association said this month.
The system allows a player who has been sidelined for six months or more by injury to use a special injury-protected ranking to enter up to eight tournaments, including one Grand Slam. Williams missed almost a year after suffering a cut foot that required surgery shortly after her 2010 Wimbledon triumph, an injury that was later followed by dangerous blood clots in her lungs. With her win, she'll boost her ranking from 169th in the world into the top 80.