Williams takes Stanford prize

Serena Williams left the tennis world in no doubt she was close to her best as she beat third seed Marion Bartoli 7-5 6-1 to claim the Bank of the West Classic crown in Stanford.

The American, who had slipped to 169 in the world following a year of injury and health problems, dismantled Maria Sharapova and Germany's Sabine Lisicki to reach the final, but found life a little tougher against Bartoli.