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Williams going after her third title in Stanford

Serena has the chance to win the 61st title in her career in the final. She struggled in the first set against Petkovic, but still managed to celebrate in two sets. Kerber turned things over to get to the finals, but left a bad impression

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The American didn't start the match against Petkovic the best way possible. True, you could see she had self-confidence from the start, and she wasn't making too many errors, but Petkovic constantly managed to find solutions in the rallies. The key was the game at 5-5 when Serena managed to save the service in the longest game of the match. That game was what broke Petkovic because she lost the service in the next service game, after a few offered break balls, and she didn't win a game after that.

It was that set ending that directed the whole match. Petkovic got frustrated about the chances she missed, while Serena relaxed her hand more and took the initiative Petkovic admitted that Serena surprised her with fantastic returns in the set final moments. She ended the match with six aces and one double error, and only had to save one break ball. After the deserved win, Serena stated:

- I'm feeling healthy, I'm feeling good and more than anything I'm feeling positive. I started making shots, got into a rhythm and it all seemed to come together for me. I still think I can do some things better. It's important to win these matches to try and get on the right track. I had to step up my game. Andrea was playing so well and making her shots. I just thought I needed to play better or be down a set.

While Serena celebrated in two sets, Kerber wasn't as lucky. Lepchenko deserved to win the first set and then she had a 5-2 advantage in the second. She played a great tennis in that part of the match, she was more consistent and felt more confident than Kerber. Still, she got "scared" of the WTA final and failed in the final moments of the match. She allowed Kerber to get back to 5-5, and then had a match ball at 6-5. Even that wasn't enough, nor the 4-2 leadership, so she lost the second set.

It was that end of that set that decided the winner. Kerber had the momentum, found faith in her hits and she was getting winner after winner. Lepchenko lost her self-confidence, tried to surprise the German player a few times, but to no avail. She got 1-4 behind quickly, and the story ended. Kerber didn't play a good match, and she mostly managed to pass through because Lepchenko lost her focus.

Varvara showed all the flaws of Angelique Kerber. Even though Serena won't play the same way, the American shouldn't have problems breaking her defense. She leads in the matches they played against each other, she showed better games in Stanford, and she's well rested. All the factors point to Serena being the best in Stanford for the third time.