(Rank/Seed)
It wasn't as easy as most people would've perhaps predicted, but it ultimately ended with the expected result; (1/1) Williams beating (18/9) Jankovic 36 60 62. Serena had beaten big sister Venus in a dramatically underwhelming semi 61 62 with Venus barely able to find the court. Jankovic edged surprise package Voegele 64 67(6) 62, from 0-2 down in the third in her semi. Serena was looking for a third straight title in Charleston, having won in 2008 and 2012, whilst Jelena looked for her second after winning back in 2007. Serena led the head to head 5-4 going in, but had lost their only previous clay court meeting in Rome 2010.
1st Set
Serena played surprisingly edgy tennis and was forced behind the baseline by Jankovic, whose improved first serve damaged her opponent. Both players hit 12 winners, but Jankovic upset the form books by breaking Serena's serve twice to win the set.
2nd Set
After a brief skirmish between the players over a return of serve, Serena got going, playing further up the court. Whereas in the first set she lost all the close games, here she converted them all as Jankovic let several leads in games slip.
3rd Set
By now, Williams had assumed control and though Jelena won two games, Serena dictated the pace and Jankovic's long week took its toll. Overall, she'd been on court twice as long as Serena and playing a long match defending against Serena is tough enough anyway. Though Jankovic out aced Serena, Williams was controlled eventually to win a third title in Charleston and in 2013.
Meanwhile, in Monterrey, Mexico, Pavlyuchenkova came from behind to beat (6/1) Kerber 46 62 64 to remain unbeaten in all three appearances at the event. Kerber had twice been pushed to three sets en route to her first final of the year, including beating Kirilenko in the semis. However, so far this year she's been losing a lot to lower ranked players and this marks the second time this year that she's lost to the Russian.
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