Winner's Circle: Serena ends three year title drought at Auckland

This week, we shall join 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams on her quest to claim an elusive WTA title, having not captured any since her triumph at the 2017 Australian Open.

Having not played a match since the 2019 US Open final (lost to Andreescu), many were in doubt about Williams's mindset and fitness. The 38-year old American had recently become a mother, and spent the rest of the 2019 season with her daughter.

Regardless, her stellar play during the previous year saw her enter the ASB Classic as the top seed. She faced Camila Giorgi in the opening round, breezing past the Italian 6-3 6-2.

Williams faced much tougher opposition in the second round, battling past compatriot Christina McHale 3-6 6-2 6-3 in two hours.

Awaiting Williams in the quarterfinal was veteran Laura Siegemund, who had lost her sole previous encounter against the American. Williams cruised past her German opponent 6-4 6-3 to secure her spot in the semifinals.

Other participants at the event included 2019 champion Julia Goerges[4], American teenager Amanda Anisimova[3] and Caroline Wozniacki[5]. There was talk of a final Williams-Wozniacki showdown, as the Dane had recently announced she would be retiring after the Australian Open.

Williams seemed eager to face her good friend one last time on the WTA circuit. The top seed swept past Anisimova 6-1 6-1 in just 43 minutes to book her place in the final. However, after defeating defending champion Goerges, Wozniacki was upset by unseeded American Jessica Pegula 6-3 4-6 0-6.

This would be the first meeting between Williams and the 82nd-ranked Pegula. Despite a valiant attempt, Pegula was unable to withstand the power and experience from her higher-ranked opponent. Williams prevailed 6-3 6-4 in an hour and 35 minutes, claiming her first title in three years.

This victory saw Williams rise a spot in the WTA rankings, moving from No.10 to No.9. The American would subsequently donate her prize money to an Australian bushfire relief fund.

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