Venus Williams claimed the title at the Pilot Pen event in New Haven after a second set whitewash of compatriot Lindsay Davenport.

Williams, the top seed, struggled in the first set before stepping up a gear and completing a 7-5 6-0 triumph.

There was an hint of familiarity around the whole affair as it was the third time in four years that the pair had met in the final, with Williams holding the formidable record of having not lost in 14 appearances at the event.

But Davenport, continuing her comeback from knee surgery, looked to challenge that record when she surged into a 5-3 first set lead.

But at that point her game fell apart dramatically and Williams reeled off the next 10 games to retain her title.