Serena Williams captured the Family Circle Cup title in defeating Vera Zvonareva 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 on Sunday for her first clay court title since the 2002 French Open.

Serena Williams of the United States poses with the ball boys and girls after her 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Vera Zvonareva of Russia in the finals of the Family Circle Cup in Charleston on Sunday.

Williams' third consecutive title this year followed victories in Bangalore and Miami. She was a WTA Tour-best 19-1 in matches this year, including the last 15 in a row, after winning her 31st career title on the green clay here on a breezy, overcast afternoon.

"I feel like I have some momentum behind me and I just want to keep going," said the fifth-seeded Williams, who won US$197,000 and a crystal cup at the US$1.3 million tournament in Charleston, South Carolina. "I definitely look at everyone as my clay court competition."

Unlike earlier matches at the Family Circle, Williams started strong, winning the first set and scattering 10 aces during the final.

"I just wanted to get that first set under my belt, and thank God I did because I lost the second," said Williams, who anticipated a long day against the ninth-seeded Russian. "I've played her a few times, so I really know her game and she's a real fighter and she never stops."

Williams improved to 5-1 against Zvonareva, who lost her third final this year.

In the third set, Zvonareva broke Williams in the third game - the final point on Williams' second double-fault. But Williams broke back in the next game, then held serve at love in the next.

"She never made a mistake when I was up," Zvonareva said. "I think I could have done a little better job about holding my serve, which I wasn't able to do."

Williams then broke Zvonareva a second time, taking advantage of two consecutive double-faults.

It was Williams' fifth appearance, but her first title.

(Agencies April 22, 2008)