![\"\"](\"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/serena.png\")
Serena Williams has won her first title since becoming a mother with victory in the ASB Classic Final in Auckland.<\/p>\nSerena Williams has won her first title since becoming a mother with victory in the ASB Classic Final in Auckland.<\/p>\n
The 23-time Grand Slam winner beat Jessica Pegula 6-3 6-4 to claim her 73rd WTA title and first in three years.<\/p>\n
Williams had not previously won a set in the any of the finals she had reached since the birth of baby Olympia in September 2017 but after falling 2-0 down in the opener she saved four break points on her way to taking it 6-3.<\/p>\n
The second was more straightforward as Williams created eight break chances and had four match points before sealing victory.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt feels good,\u201d Williams said in the on-court presentation. \u201cIt\u2019s been a long time, I think you could see the relief on my face.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt definitely feels good, I\u2019m definitely improving as the week went on, and I needed to because it\u2019s been a lot of tough matches this week. I\u2019ve played every day and I\u2019m still here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Williams also announced she would donate her winnings to the Australian bushfire relief fund.<\/p>\n
In Australia, Karolina Pliskova completed a successful defense of her title at the Brisbane International with a 6-4 4-6 7-5 victory over Madison Keys.<\/p>\n
Pliskova had to fight hard for her third career title. Keys, finding herself 6-4 3-2 down, won four of the next five games to force a third set but eventually succumbed in a contest which lasted a little over two hours.<\/p>\n