{blackbabes} SERENA ROUTS AZARENKA FOR FOURTH CONSECUTIVE TITLE

ROME -- Serena Williams won her fourth consecutive title of the year in dominating fashion Sunday, beating third-seeded Victoria Azarenka 6-1, 6-3 in the Italian Open final.

The top-ranked American will enter the French Open, which starts next Sunday, on a career-best 24-match winning streak.

On a pleasant spring day, Williams immediately took control by breaking Azarenka's serve twice to take a 3-0 lead in the opening set.

The 15-time Grand Slam winner slugged winners at will off Azarenka's first and second serves, stepping into the court to dictate play at every opportunity.

Azarenka grew distraught at the end of the first set, twice slamming her racket on the court in desperation.

After trading breaks midway through the second set, Williams took control again when Azarenka double-faulted to give her a 5-3 lead. Williams served out the match at love, letting out a big scream when she unleashed a backhand winner down the line to close it out.

"She definitely showed incredible tennis today," Azarenka said. "But I don't think the score says how close the match was. She was better at the key moments."

Williams held a 41-12 edge in winners and served nine aces to Azarenka's none.

Williams had twice won 21 matches in a row before, although they came more than a decade ago, in 2002 and the beginning of 2003.

Martina Navratilova established the longest women's winning run in the Open Era at 74 matches in 1984.

Williams' only previous title at this clay-court event came when she beat Justine Henin in the 2002 final.

That was also the year she won her only Roland Garros title. Last year in Paris, Williams lost in the opening round of a major for the first time, falling to 111th-ranked Virginie Razzano of France.

At 31, Williams is back at the top of her game after missing 11 months in 2010 and 2011 with a right foot injury and a pulmonary embolism.

It was Azarenka's first final since beating Williams for the title in February at Doha, Qatar. That followed the Belorussian's Australian Open victory. Since then, Azarenka has been slowed by right ankle and left foot injuries.

It was the 51st title of Williams' career. Navratilova also holds the record in that category with a seemingly insurmountable 167 titles. Williams moved within two titles of matching Monica Seles for ninth on the all-time list.

Wiilliams was already first among active players and now has seven more titles than her sister Venus, who is second on the list and watched the final from the stands.

Williams improved to 12-2 in her career against Azarenka, who spent 51 weeks at No. 1 before Williams reclaimed the top spot in February.

Earlier in the women's doubles final, Su-Wei Hsieh of Taiwan and Peng Shuai of China upset the top-ranked Italian pair of Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci 4-6, 6-3, 10-8.