Serena Williams won her first title in 11 months when she beat Patty Schnyder 7-5, 6-3 in the Bangalore Open final on Sunday.
Making her debut in Bangalore, Williams won her 29th career title and first since last April at Miami.
"It's good to be a champ here, it always feels good to win," Williams said.
The American squandered two set points at 4-5 in the first set and rallied from 3-0 down in the second.
Serving for the match, Williams had to save two break points before claiming the victory in 83 minutes.
"I did not want to make too many errors. That was my game plan, but I did not stick to it," Williams said. "It wasn't my best match. Patty played well and forced me to do better."
Williams was playing only her second tournament of the year. After her title defense at the Australian Open ended in the quarter-finals, she had gum surgery and had to withdraw from four tournaments last month.
This week, she saved a match point in beating sister Venus in the semi-finals.
In the final, 11th-ranked Williams was warned for court violation and racket abuse when she cursed and smashed her racket on the ground in the fifth game.
"I'm passionate about what I do. I got too passionate, my grip was wet and that's what happened," Williams said.
Williams missed two sets points with Schnyder serving at 4-5, and squandered two more in the 12th game before winning the fifth set point on a netted return by the Swiss player.
Schnyder, ranked 12th, broke Williams twice to lead 3-0 in the second but Williams had the set tied at 3-3 and rolled to the end.
In the doubles final, Peng Shuai and Sun Tiantian of China defeated top-seeded Chan Yung-jan and Chuang Chia-jung of Taiwan 6-4, 5-7, 10-8.
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