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    Serena Williams: Star wins first WTA title in nine months

    By Brandon Griggs, CNN

    Updated 0830 GMT (1630 HKT) May 16, 2016

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    Serena Williams has taken tennis fashion to new heights. In New York she wore a $500 black-and-brown one-shoulder silhouette dress with tulle skirt for her 2018 US Open debut.
    Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
    Serena Williams has taken tennis fashion to new heights. In New York she wore a $500 black-and-brown one-shoulder silhouette dress with tulle skirt for her 2018 US Open debut.
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    Williams, playing her first home Slam since giving birth to her first child last year, entered the Arthur Ashe Stadium in a black bomber jacket with white trim.
    Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
    Williams, playing her first home Slam since giving birth to her first child last year, entered the Arthur Ashe Stadium in a black bomber jacket with white trim.
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    Williams turned heads with her striking black catsuit in the first round of the 2018 French Open in Paris -- tournament organizers have since tightened dress codes for next year, meaning the catsuit will be consigned to the closet.
    Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
    Williams turned heads with her striking black catsuit in the first round of the 2018 French Open in Paris -- tournament organizers have since tightened dress codes for next year, meaning the catsuit will be consigned to the closet.
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    The 23-time grand slam champion was playing in her first major since giving birth to her first child in September. "I feel like a warrior princess in it," she told reporters. " I'm always living in a fantasy world. I always wanted to be a superhero, and it's kind of my way of being a superhero."
    Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
    The 23-time grand slam champion was playing in her first major since giving birth to her first child in September. "I feel like a warrior princess in it," she told reporters. " I'm always living in a fantasy world. I always wanted to be a superhero, and it's kind of my way of being a superhero."
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    The 36-year-old American said the skintight suit also served a practical purpose after enduring a difficult childbirth. "I had a lot of problems with my blood clots. So there is definitely a little functionality to it," she said.
    Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
    The 36-year-old American said the skintight suit also served a practical purpose after enduring a difficult childbirth. "I had a lot of problems with my blood clots. So there is definitely a little functionality to it," she said.
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    Williams sticks with black and pink during the 2016 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, New York.
    Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
    Williams sticks with black and pink during the 2016 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, New York.
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    Serena attends the 2016 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Graydon Carter at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, California.
    Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
    Serena attends the 2016 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Graydon Carter at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, California.
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    Serena enjoyed an astonishing 2015 season -- winning the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon. She missed the China Open and WTA finals after revealing she needed time to recover from a grueling year.<br />
    Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
    Serena enjoyed an astonishing 2015 season -- winning the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon. She missed the China Open and WTA finals after revealing she needed time to recover from a grueling year.
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    Serena sports a beaded hairstyle as she celebrates her first U.S. Open title -- and her first major -- back in 1999.
    Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
    At the beginning – Serena sports a beaded hairstyle as she celebrates her first U.S. Open title -- and her first major -- back in 1999.
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    Serena Williams poses on court after triumphing in the 2015 French Open final.
    Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
    Parisian style – Serena Williams poses on court after triumphing in the 2015 French Open final.
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    Serena blasts down a powerful serve on her way to another victory.
    Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
    In the pink – Serena blasts down a powerful serve on her way to another victory.
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    In 1999, Williams enrolled at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale in Florida to study fashion design. Here, she shows a collection of her designs at the 2012 Australian Open.
    Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
    Height of fashion – In 1999, Williams enrolled at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale in Florida to study fashion design. Here, she shows a collection of her designs at the 2012 Australian Open.
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    Williams, the world's No. 1 player, serves during a training session ahead of the 2015 French Open in Paris.
    Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
    If the cap fits... – Williams, the world's No. 1 player, serves during a training session ahead of the 2015 French Open in Paris.
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    Williams celebrated her sixth Wimbledon title in 2015, resplendent in the All England Club's traditional all-white attire. It meant she held all four grand slam titles, going back to the 2014 U.S. Open -- her second "Serena Slam."
    Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
    Traditional values – Williams celebrated her sixth Wimbledon title in 2015, resplendent in the All England Club's traditional all-white attire. It meant she held all four grand slam titles, going back to the 2014 U.S. Open -- her second "Serena Slam."
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    Serena sported a catsuit when she played Corina Morariu during the 2002 U.S. Open. That title was the third leg of her first non-calendar "Serena Slam," which she completed months later at the 2003 Australian Open.
    Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
    The cat's whiskers – Serena sported a catsuit when she played Corina Morariu during the 2002 U.S. Open. That title was the third leg of her first non-calendar "Serena Slam," which she completed months later at the 2003 Australian Open.
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    Williams waves to the crowd as she enters stadium court before her match against Monica Niculescu of Romania at Indian Wells in 2015.
    Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
    Making an entrance – Williams waves to the crowd as she enters stadium court before her match against Monica Niculescu of Romania at Indian Wells in 2015.
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    In a neon yellow outfit, Serena celebrates against Eleni Daniilidou of Greece during the 2012 Western & Southern Open in Mason, Ohio.
    Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
    Glowing performance – In a neon yellow outfit, Serena celebrates against Eleni Daniilidou of Greece during the 2012 Western & Southern Open in Mason, Ohio.
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    Williams looks crestfallen as she reflects on a point that got away.
    Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
    Blue moment – Williams looks crestfallen as she reflects on a point that got away.
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    A more formally-attired Serena celebrates one of her six victories at the U.S. Open.
    Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
    Suitable occasion – A more formally-attired Serena celebrates one of her six victories at the U.S. Open.
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    The Florida resident has triumphed at the US Open in New York six times.
    Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
    Black and white image – The Florida resident has triumphed at the US Open in New York six times.
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    With her hair -- <a href="/2012/08/15/sport/tennis/serena-venus-roddick-williams-tennis/index.html" target="_blank">which she once described as "super crazy"</a> -- tied back, Serena blasts a shot in a match against Ana Ivanovic in Cincinnati.
    Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
    Power play – With her hair -- which she once described as "super crazy" -- tied back, Serena blasts a shot in a match against Ana Ivanovic in Cincinnati.
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    Serena serves on a sunny day at Flushing Meadows, New York.
    Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
    Out of the shadows – Serena serves on a sunny day at Flushing Meadows, New York.
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    Williams celebrates after winning the Madrid Open final against Maria Sharapova in 2013.
    Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
    Up in the air – Williams celebrates after winning the Madrid Open final against Maria Sharapova in 2013.
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    Serena sports a new style at the Australian Open in 2013.
    Photos: Serena Williams: Stylish superstar
    Hair-raising – Serena sports a new style at the Australian Open in 2013.
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    (CNN)At an age when most pro tennis players have retired to play exhibitions or serve up commentary on TV, Serena Williams just keeps winning tournaments.

    The 34-year-old beat fellow American Madison Keys in straight sets Sunday to win the Italian Open and claim her first ATP title in nine months. The clay-court triumph, by a score of 7-6 (7-5) 6-3, cements Williams' status as the favorite to win the French Open, which starts in a week.
    "It feels great," Williams said afterward, according to a post on the tournament website. "I feel like it was important for me to just go out there like usual. I think she's such a powerful player."
      It was Williams' first title since winning a tournament in Cincinnati last August. After being upset in the U.S. Open final last September -- failing in her historic bid to win all four grand slam events of 2015 -- she lost this year in the finals of the Australian Open and at Indian Wells in California.
      Sunday's win in Rome was the 70th title of Williams' remarkable pro career. The promising Keys, 21, has won one.
      Read More
      Keys, ranked 24th in the world, led 3-1 in the opening set before Williams battled back to force a tiebreaker.
      On the men's side of the draw, Andy Murray celebrated his 29th birthday by upsetting the world's top-ranked player, Novak Djokovic, 6-3, 6-3, to hoist the trophy. The Scot's win broke Djokovic's 17-match winning streak against Top 10 opponents.
        It was Murray's first-ever victory over Djokovic on clay. If the Serbian had won, he would have become the first tennis player to exceed $100,000,000 in prize money.
        READ MORE: Birthday boy Murray beats Djokovic
        Andy Murray returns the ball to Novak Djokovic during their final Sunday.
        Andy Murray returns the ball to Novak Djokovic during their final Sunday.