Serena Williams wins Rome Masters trophy, ends 9-month title drought

Serena Williams ended a nine-month title drought with a 7-6 (5), 6-3 win over Madison Keys in an all-American Italian Open final on Sunday.

Serena Williams ended a nine-month title drought with a 7-6 (5), 6-3 win over Madison Keys in an all-American Rome Masters final on Sunday.

Serena Williams returns the ball to Madison Keys, during their final match at the Italian Open tennis tournament. (AP Photo)

Williams’ previous title came in Cincinnati in August — a month before her attempt at a calendar-year Grand Slam ended with a semifinal loss to Roberta Vinci at the U.S. Open.

It was Williams’ fourth title in Rome and it comes exactly a week before the French Open begins.

It was the first time two American women have met in a final on clay since Serena beat older sister Venus in the 2002 French Open.

The last all-American final in Rome was in 1970, when Billie Jean King beat Julie Heldman.

In the men’s final of the tournament, top-ranked Novak Djokovic was facing Andy Murray.