Serena Williams wins Auckland Classic 2020 for first title in three years since 2017.
Serena Williams won her first title to end the three years winning drought and first since becoming a mother with victory over Jessica Pegula 6-3, 6-4 on Sunday to win the singles final at the ASB Classic 2020.
The 23-time Grand Slam singles champions, Williams, 38, hadn’t won a title since the Australian Open singles in January 2017, and not since she became a mother to her daughter Olympia, who was court-side to see the victory and her 73rd WTA title overall...
Williams was under pressure at first against the 25-year-old Pegula, playing in her third WTA final, but asserted herself more as the match went on to claim her 73rd win in 98 finals and to add her name to a trophy won by her sister, Venus, in 2015.
Williams, in her fourth decade on the WTA Tour, lost the Wimbledon and US Open finals in 2018 and 2019 and retired from the 2019 Rogers Cup final.
The Australian Open begins on 20 January, with Williams bidding to equal Margaret Court's record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles.
“It definitely feels good. It’s been a long time,” Williams said. “I think you can see the relief on my face.
“I played an incredible opponent today in Jessica and, honestly, it was a great match and I couldn’t have played anyone better in the final.”
Williams said. “It feels that I was definitely improving as the week went on.”
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