Serena subdues Sharapova to defend Madrid Open Title

MADRID, May 12 (Reuters): World number one and top seed Serena Williams racked up the 50th title of her 18-year career when she thumped Maria Sharapova 6-1 6-4 to defend her Madrid Open crown on Sunday.

Williams’ victory, her fourth tournament success of 2013 and only the seventh on clay since she turned pro in 1995; prevented Sharapova from leapfrogging her to the top of the rankings.

The Russian world number two struggled to find her range on the sun-drenched Manolo Santana show court as the 31-year-old Williams raced through the first set.

Sharapova, 26, mounted a fight back at the start of the second but could not sustain it and Williams broke her for a fifth time in the match to secure a first title on red clay; the Madrid courts were blue last year since the 2002 French Open.

Sharapova, who won the title at Roland Garros last year, has a woeful record against Williams. She has only beaten her twice in 15 attempts, and never on clay, with both victories coming almost a decade ago.