Seventh seed Serena Williams shrugged off a hostile crowd and rallied for a 4-6 6-4 6-2 victory over Kim Clijsters to claim her second Indian Wells Masters Series crown in California.

Williams was painted as the villain after she advanced to the final in a walkover on Thursday night when sister Venus pulled out complaining of tendinitis in her knee just minutes before their semi-final.

Williams was greeted by boos when she took the court against Clijsters, and the jeering continued sporadically throughout the match.

"I want to thank my God for giving me strength," said Williams, adding to the crowd: "You guys were a little tough today for me."

Clijsters, the 17-year-old 14th seed, has now lost all three of her matches against the 19-year-old Williams.

AFP