Serena Williams captures Italian Open

ROME, May 19 (UPI) -- Serena Williams won the $1.22 million Italian Open Sunday and gained a small measure of revenge against Belgian Justine Henin.

Williams defeated Henin, 7-6 (8-6), 6-4, just a week after the 19-year-old Belgian won a third-set tiebreaker at the German Open to claim that claycourt title.

The younger sister of Venus Williams, Serena Williams took home $182,000.

The fourth-seeded Williams earned her 14th career WTA Tour singles title and her first on clay. Last Sunday in Berlin was her first-ever clay final.

Henin came into her Rome debut on a red-hot run that reached nine straight victories before the setback Sunday. She still holds an impressive 14-3 record on clay courts this year.