Serena Williams of the US hits a return against compatriot Jessica Pegula in their women's singles final match during the Auckland Classic tennis tournament in Auckland on January 12, 2020. / AFP / MICHAEL BRADLEY
Auckland: Serena Williams ended a three-year title drought Sunday when she overcame a sluggish start to beat outsider Jessica Pegula 6-3, 6-4 in an all-American final at the WTA Auckland Classic.
The 38-year-old and tournament top seed, in Auckland to tune-up for the Australian Open, slipped 1-3 behind in the first set against the unseeded Pegula.
But once she found her range there was never any doubt that Williams would claim her 73rd WTA title.
It is Williams first title since 2017 when she won the Australian Open, a tournament she is targeting again this year to match Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 major singles titles.
