Serena Williams Defeats Victoria Azarenka to Win 2013 Rome Masters

American tennis icon Serena Williams kept her hot streak going through the 2013 Rome Masters on Sunday as she took down Victoria Azarenka in straight sets for a 6-1, 6-3 victory.

It was the 51st professional title of Williams' star-studded career, according to Tennis Connected on Twitter:

The victory gives Williams a boost of momentum heading into the French Open, where she will look continue her impressive 2013.

For Azarenka, the loss will prove to be a hard pill to swallow. Just earlier this year, she lost her No. 1 ranking to Williams, and the end result from the Rome Masters won't help that cause.

Things proved to be heading toward a tight match from the get-go, as Azarenka took Williams to deuce in each of the match's opening three games. However, things quickly went awry for Azarenka as she was dusted 6-1 in a 45-minute first set.  

Azarenka was visibly displeased with her performance in the first set, and despite a valiant effort, she couldn't turn things around in the second.

Williams quickly asserted her dominance.

Though she allowed Azarenka to break and cut it to 4-3, the American put her foot on the gas and cruised through the championship-clinching final two games.

After a dominating performance in Italy for what is usually a tune-up for the French Open, Williams looks to be headed in the right direction to continue her 24-match win streak at Roland Garros.

Williams has only won the French Open once (2002), but the 31-year-old looks to be on top of her game in 2013.