It certainly coudn't have been the way Serena Williams wanted to win the Rome championship, or--for that matter--the way Sara Errani "wanted" to lose it. Though she was hardly favored to win the final today, Sara Errani carried the hopes and adoration of Italy all the way to the last match, only to sustain a left hip injury during the first set.
Errani kept playing, but her movement was seriously restricted, and she lost 3-6, 0-6 to the defending champion. It was an odd run for Williams. She didn't face a top 10 player in her draw, and then her opponent in the final was rendered harmless by injury. But such is pro tennis, and this Rome win--Williams' third--gives her 60 WTA singles titles. Also, it's kind of nice to win the Italian Open as one's final preparation for Roland Garros competition.
Errani, sadly, had to retire during the first set of the doubles final, when Kveta Peschke and Katarina Srebotnik were leading 4-0. The victory for Peschke and Srebotnik is their tenth.
Serena Williams is the only player on the tour to have won three titles in 2014. She is the defending champion at the French Open, which begins on May 25. Williams is 53-2 on clay since the beginning of the 2012 clay season. She lost to Virginie Randazzo in the first round of the 2012 French Open, and she lost to Jana Cepelova in her opening round (second round of play) at this year's Charleston event.
Errani defeated both Li Na and Jelena Jankovic to get to the Italian open final. Both Jankovic and countrywoman Ana Ivanovic went out in the semifinals.
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