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ISTANBUL, Turkey -- Top-ranked Serena Williams breezed past Angelique Kerber 6-3, 6-1 to open her bid for a fourth ATP Championships title on Tuesday. Williams, the defending champion, had no trouble against Kerber, who also lost to the American 6-4, 6-1 in the round-robin at this event last year. Kerber was the only player to beat Williams last year - in Cincinnati - after the Americans first-round ouster at the French Open. "Today she was playing unbelievable, and I had actually no chance. I mean, she was serving great and also returning unbelievable," Kerber said. "So I was just giving all I could, but yeah, its tough to play against Serena like this." Williams was particularly effective with her backhand return, the shot she also used on her first match point. Kerber, who had two straight double-faults to surrender the first game of the second set, produced another to give Williams three match points. Although she is 32, considered a ripe age in tennis, Williams is enjoying the finest season in her career, having already won 10 titles. She added the French Open and U.S. Open titles to bring her Grand Slam record to 17 championships and is 74-4 for the year. Earlier, second-ranked Victoria Azarenka overcame an erratic performance to beat an ailing Sara Errani 7-6 (4), 6-2 in the opening match of tournament. "I was a little rusty at the beginning. I think its a little bit expected after a break, and playing right away against a top player always makes it a little bit difficult," Azarenka said. Williams, making her eighth appearance in the event, is looking to become the first player to successfully defend the title since Justine Henin in 2007. If she achieves the feat, she would equal Chris Evert for third most WTA Championships with her fourth. Henin was also the last to win 10 titles in a season, in 2007. Williams has clinched the year-end No. 1 ranking for the third time in her career after 2002 and 2009. Errani hurt her right calf in the third game of the second set and took a medical timeout to have it treated. Several times after that she seemed to be bothered by the injury and to favour her right leg, although she returned after the medical timeout to break Azarenkas serve to level at 2-2. She did not win another game though. "In the tiebreaker I felt a pain in my calf on serve," Errani said. "The first set was very tough, very long. I was running a lot." Errani served for the set three times -- and dropped serve each time as both players produced sloppy play with little rhythm. Azarenka, the Australian Open champion, managed to hold her serve only once through the first eight games but seized her chance when it came. She won four straight points in the tiebreaker to take a 5-3 lead, then faltered when she served her sixth double-fault. But an error by Errani gave Azarenka two set points. Errani then committed a double-fault and Azarenka had the set. "I think, overall was important to take that first set. It was a big turnaround point," Azarenka said. Azerenka, who was runner-up in the event in 2011 and a semifinalist last year, finished with eight double-faults but she also had 51 winners for Erranis 28. Azarenkas win was her first since losing the U.S. Open final to Serena Williams. Azarenka lost both of her opening matches in Tokyo and Beijing, where she had 15 double-faults. The tournament brings together the top eight players in the world. Third-ranked Maria Sharapova dropped out with a shoulder injury. The players are split onto two round-robin groups, with the top two finishers from each pool advancing to the semifinals. Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys . DArnaud hit one of three doubles for the Mets as they took a 4-0 lead in the first. Then the catchers seventh home run of the season broke the game open in the fifth. The 41-year-old Colon (10-8) retired the first 20 batters in his last outing Wednesday against Seattle, eventually allowing two runs on three hits in 7 1-3 innings in a 3-2 win. Justin Faulk Jersey . At times during a solid but not spectacular season, they looked all three. Still the defending AFC champions persevered, riding their top-ranked defence and key contributions from younger players to a 12-4 record and their eighth playoff appearance since 2000, remarkable consistency in a league where change is the only constant. http://www.hurricanessale.com/customized/ .7 million, one-year contract, a raise of $2.2 million. Wieters had asked for $8.75 million and the Orioles had offered $6. Rod Brind Amour Jersey . - Steve Stricker usually doesnt show up at a tournament on Sunday.ZURICH - Usain Bolt has decided to end his injury-plagued season early, having competed in just three races in 2014. Organizers for Thursdays Diamond League meeting in Zurich said Sunday that Bolt had withdrawn from the events 100-meter race and will not compete again this season. The decision comes a day after the Olympic champion and world record-holder won a 100 race in Warsaw, Poland, clocking 9.98 seconds. The statement said Bolts coach Glen Mills "feels it is now time to shut it down while he is healthy and injury free with a view on his preparations for the 2015 season." Bolts preparations for the season were disrupted by a foot injury and his only other appearances in 2014 were in the 4x100 relay for Jamaica at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and a 100 exhibition race in Rio de Janeiro. He won all three events but without displaying the type of speed tthat has made him the sports biggest star.dddddddddddd Saturday was the first time this year he ran a 100 race in under 10 seconds. With no major titles on offer in 2014, Bolt hopes to be back to full fitness for next years world championships in Beijing, which will mark a return to the Birds Nest stadium where he won three Olympic golds in 2008 and set as many world records. His absence will be a major blow to European meet organizers, though, as the Jamaican remains the sports biggest draw. However, Zurich meet director Patrick Magyar said he understood Bolts decision. "Usains body has delivered tremendous performances over the last years. But, it is a body and not a machine," Magyar said. "If an athlete of that level and his coach feel more rest is needed, we are certainly not going to question this and fully support this decision." 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