Serena Williams from U.S. (Photo: AP)
Defending champion Serena Williams beat Maria Sharapova 6-1, 6-4 in the final of the Madrid Open on Sunday to retain her No. 1 ranking and collect her 50th career title.
With the top ranking at stake, Williams stormed out to an early lead as Sharapova struggled with her serve.
The second-ranked Russian briefly recovered her poise in the second set, but Williams' form never wavered as she eased to the title.
Williams improved her record against Sharapova to 13-2. Her two losses came in 2004.
It was Sharapova's first loss in a red-clay final after winning eight in a row.
In the men's final later Sunday, Rafael Nadal plays Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland.
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