Serena crowns 2012 with WTA Championships title
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ISTANBUL (AFP) - Serena Williams completed her sensational 2012 comeback by easing to a 6-4, 6-3 win over Maria Sharapova for a third WTA Championships title on Sunday.
The 31-year-old's victory came at the end of a spectacular year in which she also collected the Wimbledon, Olympic and US Open titles.
"Now I have won I can be honest - I really wanted to win this title, and I put pressure on myself (to do so)," said Williams, whose career head-to-head record over Sharapova now stands at 10-2. "I wanted it so bad, I didn't want to say it. I had such a good year, it really was important to me to win, and this title in particular.
"Maria played really well and she's improved so much, which is amazing for a player of her stature and calibre. But I played solid, and in the last game of the match I played really well." Williams, who has battled back to the top of her game after battling injury and a life-threatening illness, said 2012 was just as good as 2002 and 2003 when she completed the "Serena Slam" of all four Grand Slams.
