Serena beats Halep in straight sets to win 3rd straight WTA Finals title

It's becoming tradition. 

Serena Williams won her third straight WTA Finals tournament on Sunday in Singapore, defeating Simona Halep 6-3, 6-0 with ease, to lift the season's final trophy. 

Williams, the top-ranked woman in the world, exacted revenge on Halep, who beat her 6-2, 6-0 earlier in the week at the tournament, a match that Serena called "embarrassing." 

After the drubbing, Williams said she was looking forward to facing Halep again, "because she is going to make me go home, train hard and particularly train for her." 

Williams didn't have to go home, as the tournament, which features the top eight female tennis players in the world, found her back in the final against the 23-year-old Romanian. 

Serena Williams is a force on a normal day, easily the best on tour, and arguably the best woman to ever take the court. When she's motivated, forget about it. 

"I had to play more Serena-style tennis and just do what I do best," Williams said after the match. "I was expecting a much better player than I was in the earlier round. Being ready for that really was able to help me out."

The Associated Press has more on the irony of Sunday's final:

The irony of Sunday's match was that Halep had it within her power to deny Williams a place in the final. Halep went into her final group-stage game knowing that if she lost in straight sets, Ana Ivanovic would go into the semifinals at Williams' expense. Instead, Halep lost in three and Williams made it in.

For Halep, though, it was a remarkable season, even though it ended on a not-so-positive result. She's gone from No. 64 in the world to No. 4 in a year and a half, and will be a force on tour next season and beyond. 

"I have no regrets," Halep said about her match with Ivanovic. "That was the chance but (Serena) deserves to win the title. She's much better."

The WTA Finals title is Serena's fifth overall. She likes to end her seasons on a high note.