Serena Williams: Ex-World No. 1 Proves She Still Has Plently Left in Her Tank

By destroying top-ranked Victoria Azerenka at the Madrid Open, 30-year-old Serena Williams showed that she is far from finished.

Formerly known as the most dangerous woman in tennis, Serena proved this weekend that she is still a force to be reckoned with. She dominated almost every opponent she played in Madrid, dropping just one set in six matches.

She took down the best young guns that the sport has to offer, from No. 6 Caroline Wozniacki, to No. 2 Maria Sharapova, to No. 1 Victoria Azarenka in the finals.

Her victory over Azarenka was particularly impressive. Serena smashed 26 winners (Azarenka had six) and had 14 aces (Azarenka had zero) on her way to a 6-1, 6-3 victory.

It was Serena's eighth win in nine matches against Azarenka and another emphatic reminder that the American tennis legend isn't going anywhere.

She's currently riding a 13-match winning streak, and this stretch of strong play couldn't have come at a better time. With the French Open just a few weeks away, this positive momentum is exactly what the aging Williams needed.

She's won once at Roland Garros (2002), but she hasn't advanced past the quarterfinals since 2004. To put things in perspective, Azarenka was 14 years old the last time Williams advanced to the semifinals.

Still, I like Serena's chances in the second major of the season. She's playing her best tennis in a couple years, and when she gets rolling, she's capable of some amazing feats.

After her performance this weekend in Madrid, don't be surprised if Serena makes some serious noise in 2012.