World number two Venus
Williams claimed victory in the final of the Bank of the West Classic in
Stanford on Sunday.
The American - beaten by her younger sister Serena in the Wimbledon final last
month - enjoyed a comfortable straight-sets win over Belgium's Kim Clijsters.
The elder Williams sibling won her fourth singles title of the season 6-3
6-3.
Top-seed Williams dropped just 21 games all week, and avenged the loss to
Clijsters at the Hamburg final in May.
Leading 3-2 in the opening set, Williams recorded her first service break, and
held her serve twice more to win 6-3.
She then took the first of four games in the second set, but double-faulted
twice in the eighth game as Clijsters pulled it back to 5-3.
But Williams broke right back for her 26th career victory.
The 22-year-old, the top seed here, was full of praise her opponent, and
admitted she had to be at her best to win.
She said: ``Kim brought out the best of my game, she ran down a lot of
balls.''
Clijsters was gracious in defeat, acknowledging that Williams was simply too
good for her.
The Belgian said: ``I had some chances, but she hardly made any unforced
errors.
``Almost every shot, every ball has to be perfect. Either you try hitting the
ball a few inches higher or you have to go deep down the middle.
''She does a little bit extra, she moves so well.
``She has that fire and is really focused. That's how all the top players
play. They raise their level and they focus on every tournament they play.''
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