Serena Caps Off Successful 2013 With Fourth Istanbul Title
October 28, 2013 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal
Serena Williams was a 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 winner Sunday, defeating Li Na to win the TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships for the fourth time in her career. A day after Serena's 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 semifinal win over Jelena Jankovic, Serena returned to the courts of Istanbul to cap off her very successful 2013 where she became the oldest ever champ at Istanbul, at 32 years and one month. Also in 2013, Serena became the first player to win 11 WTA titles in a season since 1997 when Martina Hingis won 12.
"I don't know how I got through that one," Serena said. "I've just had a really long year, and I'm just really excited, honestly. I really didn't expect to get through this match today. Wow, thank God. I can't believe I won. I was so tired. Honestly, did I really win? Because she played so well."
Serena won 78 of 82 matches in 2013 and will finish the year as the top-ranked player for the third time in her career after 2002 and 2009. She captured the 2013 French Open and U.S. Open for a total of 17 Grand Slam crowns. Her prize money total for 2013 was $12,385,572. The only player to earn more in a year was Novak Djokovic with $12,803,737 in 2012 and $12,619,803 in 2011.
