It was not exactly a changing of the guard, but emerging star Serena Williams of the United States knocked off former world No. 1 Steffi Graf of Germany today to win the $1.3 million Evert Cup.

Williams, 17, claimed her second straight title and $800,000, rallying for a 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 triumph over the fifth-seeded German. She won her first career championship February 28 at the Open Gaz de France in Paris.

"This is the biggest tournament I've ever won," Williams said. "I know that I can win the big ones now."

Williams trailed 4-2 in the final set but held serve three times and broke Graf twice to seal the victory. She had just one break over the first two sets.

The California native had 38 unforced errors in the match to Graf's 26, but fired 14 of her 35 winners and four of nine aces in the 49-minute third set. She also won seven points at the net.

"I had to keep saying to myself, `I'm not going to win at the baseline. No one's ever won at the baseline,'" Williams said. "Everyone eventually comes to the net."

Graf, who admittedly played tentatively, had one ace and 11 winners overall.

"It's something that I've been the last few weeks," she said. "Yow know, just not taking that little extra risk."

Overcoming inflammation in her right knee and a surprisingly partisan crowd, Williams became the second player this season to claim back-to-back events. Fellow teenager and world No. 1 Martina Hingis of Switzerland won the Australian Open on January 31 before claiming the Pan Pacific Open at Tokyo.

Williams, who has won 11 straight matches, made history two weeks ago with older sibling Venus, becoming the first sisters to claim singles titles on the same day. Venus won in Oklahoma City.

Graf, 29, was seeking her 107th career singles title -- by far the most among active players. The owner of 21 Grand Slam victories, she has won at least one event in 13 straight years, including this event in 1994 and 1996.

"It means a lot to me because Steffi is a great champion," Williams said of today's win. "She has more titles, from what I hear, than any man or lady playing tennis."

The German had an emotional visit here last year in her return from knee surgery. She was moved to tears many times on her way to the semifinals before suffering a hamstring strain during her match with American Lindsay Davenport, her only previous loss at this event.