World No. 1 Serena Williams wilted only one set away from a breakthrough victory Sunday.
Williams, who has never won a Cincinnati title, dominated the first set of the Western & Southern Open final. But she then fell apart, giving No. 2 Victoria Azarenka a chance to rally for a 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (6) win that ended Williams' 14-match winning streak.
Williams committed 58 unforced errors that turned the momentum.
''I just felt really off this whole week, but I was surprised to be in the final and surprised to be doing well,'' Williams said. ''So I don't know, there's a few factors. I think what matters most was just fighting the whole time and survived to the end.''
The week in Cincinnati provided a preview for the US Open, with Rafael Nadal prevailing in a men's bracket that included Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal.
On the women's side, the final matchup was a rematch from last September at Flushing Meadows.
Williams has dominated this season, going 60-4. She has never done well in Cincinnati, and was eager to win on Sunday for a career-best ninth title of the season. All the statistics were in her favor — a 12-2 career record against Azarenka, including that US Open title last year.
She won the first set in 26 minutes, dropping only 11 points. Then, she got sloppy in a second set that bogged down. The sixth game went to deuce 12 times before Williams held serve on the 30th point. Williams appeared to wear down and lost the set 6-2.
It was reminiscent of their finals match at the US Open last year, when Williams took the last four games to win 6-2, 2-6, 7-5. This time, Azarenka held on, winning a couple decisive points off Williams' serve in the tiebreaker.
Tournament officials handed her an oversized bottle of champagne when she finished off the 2-hour, 29-minute match. Azarenka was hesitant to pop the cork, until Williams encouraged her. She sprayed the court and took a sip.
''I need to get more practice because I felt like I'm not directing it too well,'' she said.
