Venus retains Mexican Open title

ACAPULCO, Mexico — Venus Williams came from a set down to defend her Mexican Open title with a 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory over Polona Hercog of Slovenia on Saturday.

It was Williams' second consecutive WTA title — this one on clay and another a week ago on hard courts in Dubai — and pushed her career total to 43 WTA titles, the most by an active player.

Hercog was appearing in her first WTA final.

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.

Williams came from 5-1 down in the final set to win the quarterfinals against Pous Tio, cheered on by fans chanting "Venus, Venus." The fans were just a vocal in the Saturday's final.

"It's too bad Mexican fans can't follow me around the world and give me that support," Williams said. "I'm going to miss it."

The victory was Williams ninth of her career on clay, second on the active list to Justine Henin. She disputes any suggestion she's only an average clay-court player.

"I actually feel like I've had good results on clay," she said.

Best friends Juan Carlos Ferrero and David Ferrer of Spain played later in the men's final. Ferrero defeated Ferrer a week ago in the ATP final in Buenos Aires.