Serena Williams thrashes No. 1 Azarenka in Madrid final

(CNN) -- Serena Williams powered to her first Madrid Masters title, hitting 14 aces in a comfortable win over Victoria Azarenka in Sunday's final.

Williams took just over an hour to take the 41st WTA singles title of her career in a 6-1 6-3 win over the world No. 1.

The in-form Williams, who has won all 13 of her matches on clay this year, set the tone for a dominant performance by winning the first four games against an opponent that had lost just one set in the tournament before the final.

World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka has come a long way since first picking up a tennis racket in her native Belarus.

However, she still considers the Eastern European nation to be her home. Azarenka is pictured with former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki (right) at a children's cancer center in Minsk in 2010.

Azarenka (far left) first became involved in the sport when her mother started working in a tennis center in her native Belarus. Her first coach was Valentina Rzhanih (also pictured).

Azarenka eventually had to leave Minsk to fulfil her ambitions, moving first to Marbella in Spain for a brief spell before settling in Arizona.

Azarenka was a Wimbledon champion at the age of 14, winning the girls' doubles title in 2004 with compatriot Volha Havartsova.

Azarenka won the junior titles at the Australian Open and U.S. Open in 2005, finishing the season as junior world number one. She burst onto the senior scene the year after.

Less than a year after she briefly considered quitting, Azarenka became the first player from Belarus to win a grand slam singles title when she beat Maria Sharapova in the 2012 Australian Open final.

Azarenka cemented her number one status by winning 14 straight matches after the Australian Open, collecting two more trophies.

Azarenka is still seeking to improve, and has added two-time grand slam champion and former world No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo to her coaching team.

Humble beginnings

Charitable cause

First taste of tennis

Young gun

Wimbledon winner

Winning ways

Grand slam champion

Number one

Tips from the top

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The tennis journey of Victoria Azarenka

Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic and Novak Djokovic of Serbia will be hoping to defend their Wimbledon titles in July -- earning a 4.5% increase in prize money if they do. Singles champions will now receive £1.15 millon ($1.85 million).

Rafael Nadal ruined Britain's hopes of a home finalist after defeating Andy Murray in the 2011 semis. Both were part of the "Big Four" who helped secure pay increases. Semifinalists will now take home £287,500 ($463,336) -- up 4.5%.

Jo-Wilifried Tsonga of France delivered one of the biggest upsets of the 2011 tournament, knocking out six-time champion Roger Federer in the quarterfinals. Quarterfinalists will now earn £145,000 ($233,720) -- an increase of 5.5%.

World No. 2 Nadal beat Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina in the last 16 before losing in the final. Fourth-round losers will this year earn £75,000 ($120,825) -- an increase of 9.1%.

Russian third seed Vera Zvonareva suffered a shock third-round exit in last year's against Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova. A similar achievement this year would earn her £33,875 ($54,630) -- an increase of 13.1%.

Germany's Sabine Lisicki drops to her knees after defeating French Open champ Li Na in the second round of last year's tournament. Under this year's schedule, the Chinese player would have made £23,125 ($37,302) -- a 14.9% rise.

Italy's Francesca Schiavone, a first-round loser in 2010, redeemed herself last year by beating Australia's Jelena Dokic. Those who drop out at the first hurdle this year will take home £14,500 ($23,389) -- the biggest increase of all rounds at 26.1%.

Wimbledon champions - £1.15 million

Semifinal - £287,500

Quarterfinal - £145,000

Fourth round - £75,000

Third round - £38,875

Second round - £23,125

First round - £14,500

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Wimbledon stars' pay increase

Williams hit 26 winners past the Belorussian, taking four of her five break-point chances and denying Azarenka's single break-point opportunity.

"I think Victoria is the player to beat," said Williams. "She has won I don't know how many tournaments this year alone. That's an amazing amount. So if you look at the stats, you just have to put her up there as the player to beat.

"I actually love the clay but my results haven't been stellar. I have won the French Open and lots of clay-court tournaments, though. It's really a myth about me not liking clay. I like it more than grass, which is weird. Hopefully I can start doing better."

Australian Open champion Azarenka had been looking for her fifth title this year, but was steamrollered by Williams.

"Being in the final of such a tournament is a good achievement," said Azarenka. "It's disappointing to lose but what can you do, it's done. I have to think about the positive things and take the best out of this week. I've been playing some great tennis."

Both players will be in action as the WTA Tour moves to Rome, where the field features nine of the world's top-10 players.

Serena's older sister Venus will play her second tournament since losing to Radwanska in the Miami quarterfinals in late March, having lost in the second round in Madrid.