SERENA WILLIAMS

CHARLESTON, South Carolina (AP):

Serena Williams captured the Family Circle Cup title in defeating Vera Zvonareva 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 yesterday for her first clay court title since the 2002 French Open.

Williams' third consecutive title this year followed victories in Bangalore and Miami. She was a WTA Tour-best 19-1 in matches this year, including the last 15 in a row, after winning her 31st career title on the green clay here on a breezy, overcast afternoon.

"I feel like I have some momentum behind me and I just want to keep going," said the fifth-seeded Williams, who won $197,000 (€125,000) and a crystal cup at the $1.3 million (€820,000) tournament. "I definitely look at everyone as my clay court competition."

Unlike earlier matches at the Family Circle, Williams started strong, winning the first set and scattering 10 aces during the final.

I know her game

"I just wanted to get that first set under my belt and thank God I did because I lost the second," said Williams, who anticipated a long day against the ninth-seeded Russian. "I've played her a few times, so I really know her game and she's a real fighter and she never stops."

Williams improved to 5-1 against Zvonareva, who lost her third final this year.

In the third set, Zvonareva broke Williams in the third game - the final point on Williams' second double fault of the day. But Williams broke back in the next game, then held serve at love in the next.

"She never made a mistake when I was up," Zvonareva said. "I think I could have done a little better job about holding my serve, which I wasn't able to do."

Williams then broke Zvonareva a second time, taking advantage of two consecutive double faults.

"She always puts pressure on you, so you always have to go for a bigger serve and eventually your serve percentage goes down," said Zvonareva, who ended with eight double faults. "I accepted I would have some double faults today. It's just too bad to have two of them in a row."

It was Williams' fifth appearance in Charleston, but her first title. She was runner-up to Justine Henin in 2003.