Serena Williams racks up 51st win to take Swedish title

BASTAD — World number one Serena Williams racked up her 51st win of the year on Sunday when she cruised past home player Johanna Larsson in the Swedish Open final.

Williams showed little mercy as she swept to a 6-4, 6-1 victory to take the 53rd WTA title of her career.

Larsson, 24, ranked 76th in the world, had no answer to the Williams arsenal and her third WTA final went the way of the previous two, ending in defeat.

French Open winner Williams, 31, was contesting her 69th final and is unbeaten on clay this season, having also won in Rome, Madrid and Charleston.

Previously, the most WTA main draw match wins Williams had at this stage of the year was 38, back in 2003.