Serena Williams vs. Victoria Azarenka: Overpowering Win Proves Williams Is Back

Serena Williams took a year-long absence from tennis thanks to an illness in 2011, but her dominant 6-1, 6-3 win over Victoria Azarenka in the final of the 2012 Madrid Open on Sunday proved that she is back. 

Williams battered Azarenka will huge serves and returns all day and owned the match against the No. 1 player in the world. Williams entered the match ranked No. 9 and it took her just 64 minutes to secure a victory. She smashed 14 aces en route to the 41st title of her career. 

Azarenka didn't take the beating well, as she smashed her racket into the ground in the middle of the second set. 

The younger Williams sister has now won her last 13 matches on clay and appears fit and ready to take on the challenge of the French Open later this month. The 30-year-old has only won at Roland Garros once, taking the title all the way back in 2002. 

She has won 13 Grand Slams in her career, but last emerged victorious at one of tennis' marquee events at Wimbledon in 2010. It has been a long road back since she received treatment for a pulmonary embolism back in March of 2011, but it appears that she has finally reached peak form in the buildup to this year's French Open.

Williams appears to be ready to make a run at this summer's three Grand Slam events. As her dominant win over Azarenka showed, she can defeat the best the women's tour has to offer at any time. If she can stay healthy, there may not be anyone who can stop her from grabbing another major or two this year.