Williams outlasts Capriati

Serena Williams prevailed in a rain-delayed final

Serena Williams overcame a three-hour rain delay to beat Jennifer Capriati 6-1 6-7 6-3 in the final of the Rogers AT&T Cup on Sunday.

The American number four seed, who had to pull out of last year's final against Martina Hingis due to a foot injury, recovered from a tense tie-break loss in the second set.

Williams also broke a string of four straight losses to the top-seeded Capriati, who ousted her from the Wimbledon quarter-finals in their last meeting.

She will be among the favourites to prevail in the US Open at Flushing Meadow, having won the event in 1999.

Today she [Williams] didn't slow down or act if she was sick - that wasn't in the play today

Jennifer Capriati

"I want to win seven singles matches in a row," Williams said afterwards, revealing her title aspirations.

Capriati spoke well of her opponent's big-point composure: "She came up with a few big ones at important times where I didn't even have a play on it."

Both players argued calls vehemently with referee Anne Ulrich during the match.

When Williams led 3-2 in the third set, Capriati disagreed loudly with Ulrich's call to play a point over.

"Really, it makes no difference to talk to them," she said: "Basically it's a waste of breath."

And she could not resist having a dig at Williams' on-court repuatation for feigning injury.

"Today she didn't slow down at all or, I don't know, act if she was sick. That wasn't in the play today."