MIAMI, March 31: Serena Williams beat world number one Jennifer Capriati 7-5 7-6 in the Nasdaq-100 Open Masters final on Saturday, keeping the title in the family.

It was the second time in three events this season that Williams has hoisted a championship trophy and her third success in as many finals against Capriati, including last month’s win in Scottsdale.

The victory keeps the event regarded as the fifth Slam in the Williams’s trophy case, Venus having claimed her third Miami title last year after Capriati squandered eight match points.

This time Capriati, who celebrated her 26th birthday on Friday with a gruelling semifinal victory over Monica Seles, had seven chances to extend the final to a third set but once again was unable to convert any of her opportunities.

The contest featuring two of the hardest hitters on the women’s Tour was far from a classic, Williams lifting the crown despite committing an astounding 59 unforced errors.

Capriati, wearing a red Ferrari outfit designed especially for her by her clothing company, showed the most initiative in the opening set, three times breaking the younger Williams only to have the eighth seed immediately break back.

The Australian Open champion’s efforts would ultimately go unrewarded, Williams breaking Capriati to love in taking the first set in a sweltering 58 minutes.

Capriati continued to attack, breaking at the first opportunity to open the second set but once again was unable to hold the advantage.

After trading breaks in the 10th and 11th games, Capriati stepped to the line to serve for the set but was unable to close out, Williams breaking back to force a tiebreak.

Capriati also shot to a 3-1 lead in the tiebreak only for Serena to fight back and win 7-4.”

Williams has made it clear her sights are set on the number one spot and her performance in Miami with straight sets wins over the world’s top three players — Capriati, Venus and Martina Hingis — indicated it may not take long to get there.

After missing a large part of the early season, including the Australian Open, due to an ankle injury, the 20-year-old has been unbeaten since her return having won back-to-back events in Scottsdale and Miami.—Reuters