Williams plays for WTA title

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- There's one more match to play before Serena Williams can call it a year, go count her millions and revel in ending the season as the No. 1 player in women's tennis.
Williams will face No. 5 Kim Clijsters in the final of the WTA Championships tonight at Staples Center.
Although her ranking is secure regardless of the outcome, Williams will try to extend her 18-match winning streak, improve her 56-4 record, defend the title she won last year in Germany and take home the top prize of $765,000.
If she does, the 21-year-old Floridian would become the first player in women's tennis to top $4 million in yearly earnings.
"Tomorrow is my last day and I'm hanging up the racket for a week and I don't want anyone to ask me any questions about tennis," she said.
Finding a way
Williams overcame 54 unforced errors to defeat No. 3 Jennifer Capriati 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, while older sister Venus Williams was forced out by a leg injury trailing 5-0 in the first set against Clijsters in the semifinals Sunday.
Venus Williams said she twisted her left ankle in a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Monica Seles on Friday night, but didn't feel the effects until Saturday night. She was diagnosed with a lower leg strain and left the court in tears.
"She was really injured," Serena said. "I don't think she should have went out there at all."
Serena Williams hit 42 winners against Capriati, but won just four more total points.
"We were playing great tennis. That's why it was so close," Capriati said.
After splitting sets, Capriati took a 3-1 lead in the third before the largest and loudest crowd of the week at Staples Center, where the tournament has suffered from poor attendance in its first year. Sunday's crowd was announced as 8,164 in the 20,000-seat arena.
Serena rally
Capriati was within a point of going up 4-1, but she returned Williams' serve long, Williams hit a 115-mph ace and then Capriati missed a forehand as Williams won the first of three consecutive games for a 4-3 lead.
"I had so many chances," Capriati said.
Capriati survived four deuces and two frustrating net cords to hold at 4-4. When the second net cord dropped in, Capriati rushed forward and hit a forehand winner. She headed back toward the baseline, turned around and smacked the saggy net with her racket.
Williams rolled through the final two games, allowing Capriati just three points. Williams used two big serves to hold at 5-4. Capriati led 30-15 on her serve before making three straight errors to lose the match.
"Our intensity levels were so high," Williams said. "She returned very well and hit some amazing shots."