Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria plays a shot in his semi final match against Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus during the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013. (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard)
BRISBANE, Australia — Serena Williams proved the break between seasons hasn’t hurt her momentum, capturing her 47th career title with a comprehensive 6-2, 6-1 victory over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in Saturday’s Brisbane International final.
Williams has won 35 of her past 36 matches, including titles at Wimbledon, the Olympics, the U.S. Open, the season-ending championship and now the first event of 2013.
Defending men’s champion Andy Murray advanced to the final when fifth-seeded Kei Nishikori retired with an injured left knee while trailing 6-4, 2-0 in their semifinal earlier Saturday.
The Olympic and U.S. Open champion will next meet 21-year-old Grigor Dimitrov, who is starting to live up to his billing as a star-in-the-making by reaching his first ATP Tour final with a 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (5) victory over Marcos Baghdatis.