Venus annexes 43rd crown on clay; Ferrer nips Ferrero

ACAPULCO, Mexico – Venus Williams came from a set down to defend her Mexican Open title, while David Ferrer defeated good friend and fellow Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero to end his 14-match winning streak Saturday.

Williams beat Polona Hercog, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, for her second consecutive title – this one on clay and another a week ago on hard courts in Dubai.

The win pushed Williams’ career total to 43 WTA championships, the most by an active player. Hercog was appearing in her first WTA final.

Ferrer lost to Ferrero at the Copa Telmex last week in Buenos Aires, but got a some revenge with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 victory in Acapulco. Ferrero’s winning streak had included ATP titles in his last two tournaments, in Brazil and Argentina.

Ferrero saw his winning streak stopped just short of his personal record. In 2002 he won 16 straight matches to help propel him to the world No. 1 ranking in 2003.

Both players said Ferrero’s fatigue played a role, the result of three straight tournaments in three weeks across Latin America.

“I was more aggressive, hitting harder,” Ferrer said. “It was the other way around in Buenos Aires.”

Asked if Ferrero’s fatigue played a role, Ferrer replied: “It was a big key, particularly given the physical level of the match. We are very evenly match, but in the third set he (Ferrero) had a letdown and I took advantage.”

Williams started slowly and got into trouble with an erratic serve and groundstrokes that were often long. Hercog was showed poise in winning the first set and seldom missed a shot.

The American gained her composure in the second set and began to wear down the 19-year-old, hitting the corners more often and opening the court.

“I played such a good opponent,” Williams said. “In the first set she did not miss one shot and I had to find a way to get into the match.”

As she did when she won last year, Williams donned a huge sombrero - known as a “charro,” the type worn by Mexico Mariachi musicians - and turned to salute the crowd.

She suggested she’ll be back next year for at shot at three straight.

“I would love to come next year,” she said. “I have to make it three, a hat trick. I think I can do it. It’s not an easy tournament to win, as you can see this year.”

It was Williams’ first tournament of the season on clay, and she was pushed to three sets in the last three matches by lower rated opponents.

Williams defeated Spain’s Laura Pous Tio in the quarterfinals (ranked No. 399), Edina Gallovits in the semifinals (No. 164) and the 60th-ranked Hercog in the final. (AP)