Resurgent Venus far from finished

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  • Venus Williams is not looking to get back to her previous Grand Slam winning form but to reach a whole new level altogether, the American declared after defeating Alize Cornet last night to capture her biggest title in four years.

    Williams gave a clinical performance to calmly dispatch the Frenchwoman 6-3, 6-0 and lift her third trophy in Dubai and first title in 16 months.

    The 33-year-old American has taken her winning streak in Dubai to 15, having won the title in 2009 and 2010 and missing the tournament between 2011 and 2013.

    She has become the Dubai tournament’s first ever unseeded champion and is the first wildcard to clinch the women’s title at the Aviation Club.

    The seven-time Grand Slam champion hadn’t won a Premier level title since Dubai in 2010. She has been battling an auto-immune disease called Sjogren’s Syndrome but appears to be on her way back to her former level.

    “I’m not looking to do anything I did in the past, because I already did that,” said Williams.

    “I’m looking to improve and be a better, smarter Venus. I think obviously this week is a step. Every week for me is a step.”

    Cornet, who took out the younger Williams sister, Serena, in the semi-finals the night before, was bidding to win her fourth career title and first since Strasbourg last season, but Venus proved too strong for the 24-year-old to handle.

    Williams gave credit to Cornet, who despite the humbling scoreline, was fighting throughout the 91-minute encounter, and said Serena’s defeat to the Frenchwoman the day before had got her curious about facing Cornet.

    “I think Serena and I have so much respect for each other that when someone else beats one of us, we think ‘wow, what did they do?’” said Venus.

    “So when I came on the court today, I thought ‘wow’. I was trying to get a feel for what exactly did she do to beat Serena? Obviously I was able to see on the court today. She’s just playing so consistently and hustling and making the plays.”

    Venus’ next tournament will be in Miami next month and she’s hoping she can carry the momentum from this week into the rest of the season.

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