Sharapova was nearly perfect at the beginning of the match, but then either she turned the light off or Serena turned it on.

 

It's evident that you can't judge a winner by their grunts, because despite Sharapova's deaf piercing exhalations, Williams proved that that highly vocal breathing spikes are not a factor when it comes to playing hard.

 

In what is arguably the best rivalry in women’s tennis, this episode was not as epic as anyone imagined or hoped.  When two mega-stars -- and top seeds -- do battle, one would hope to see a knock down, drag-out contest, but this time, not so much. Sharapova is great in her own right, but she just doesn't fare well against Serena.

 

So, as Williams continued her legendary dominance at Crandon Park and marched to her sixth Sony Open championship, we learned yet again that age is only a number. that winning is determined by how hard you work and not by how you look or how many commercials you star in.

 

With her accomplishment on this day, Williams joins an elite group of women in the Open era to win the same WTA tournament six times. It's rarefied air to join the likes of Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, and Steffi Graf.

 

Whether it's the proximity to her home or the warm Florida sun, one thing is certain: the Sony Open in Miami has become a Miami 'vice' of Serena's that she doesn't intend to give up anytime soon.