Venus Williams

ROUNDUP: Williams sets aside controversy to lift Dubai honours

Venus WilliamsDubai, UAE  - Venus Williams put this week's controversy to the side as she lifted the 40th title of her career, claiming the Barclays Championships title 6-4, 6-2 over Virginie Razzano on Saturday.

Williams, seeded sixth, will move back into the WTA Top 5 for the first time since 2003 after her success at an event thrown into chaos by the visa exclusion of Israeli Shahar Peer.

Williams took the opportunity to praise Peer during post-match ceremonies following the win in just over 90 minutes over 58th-ranked Frenchwomen Razzano.

Williams wins first title of season in Dubai

Venus WilliamsDubai, UAE - Venus Williams won her first title of the season as she claimed the Barclays Championships on her fourth attempt with a 6-4, 6-2 defeat of Virginie Razzano on Saturday.

Williams, seeded sixth, followed up her second straight defeat of her sister Serena in the semi-finals as she beat the 58th-ranked Frenchwomen in just over 90 minutes.

Razzano, who prepared after her own semi-final win with a spa treatment and a beer with dinner, was stretched out on court with a back problem after the seventh game of the opening set, trailing 3-4 on serve.

Serena, Venus Williams’ coach training 4yr-old tennis genius

Serena Williams, Venus WilliamsLondon, Feb 10 : A four-year-old tennis prodigy named Mia Lines is being trained by none other than the man who has coached the champion sisters Serena and Venus Williams.

Mia, who began playing the game at the mere age of one, is a God gifted player, according the world-renowned coach Rick Macci.

"I have seen hundreds of kids come through my school in the 25 years I have been doing this and I have never seen a four year old with such god-given talent," the Telegraph quoted Rick as saying.

Jankovic leads "egalitarian phase" in women's tennis

Hamburg - Venus Williams' title at the WTA Championships on Sunday marked the end of a turbulent year in women's tennis which saw six changes at the number one position after Justine Henin's retirement.

The Belgian Henin was tipped to dominate 2008 after an amazing unbeaten second half of 2007, but her win streak came to an end at the Australian Open in January and she then retired from tennis on May 14 at the age of 26.

"I based my life on the relationships, the love and all that I could give to tennis. But I couldn't manage to express it anymore these past months," she said, naming retirement "a great day in my life."