Serena retains title

Serena Williams rallied to successfully defend her WTA Championships title with a three set victory over Li Na in Istanbul on Sunday.

The American, winning her 11th title of the season, dropped the first set 6-2 but hit back to level the match 6-3 before running away with the decider 6-0.

Williams has lost only four of her 82 matches in 2013 and finishes the year as the top ranked player in the women’s game for the third time, achieving the feat in 2002 and 2009 as well.

China’s Li was playing in her first WTA Championship final and will finish the year third in the rankings.

“It’s been a really long year, I’m really excited as I didn’t think I was going to get through this,” Skysports quoted Williams as saying.