Venus taunts Serena as Clijsters crumbles

Venus Williams overwhelmed Kim Clijsters 6–2, 6–4, yesterday to win the Diamond Games and came within one tournament win of owning the US$1 million (£670,000) diamond–encrusted trophy racket for good.

In a final between the world's No 2 and 3, the ranking was respected as Williams' overpowering serve and flawless backcourt game made the difference. The American slammed serves peaking at 117.5mph, compared to too many serves of the Belgian which failed to reach 94mph.

"I put a lot of pressure with my serve," Williams said. "I was always able to force the point."

Clijsters agreed. "She was simply far too strong on the important points," the Belgian said. "Her first serves made a lot of difference."

The successful defense of her title left Williams in an enviable position. If she wins the Antwerp event in any of the next three years, she can claim the diamond racket as her own. The trophy goes to the first triple champion in any five–year span.

"I have a great chance to do that now," said Williams, who feels an obligation to come back. "I have no choice," she said.

Asked whether she would invite her sister Serena, the world's No. 1, to come toughen the competition even more, she said, "If you want to challenge me here, Serena, if you are watching, come on."

Venus has lost to Serena in the final of the last four Grand Slams, including last month's Australian Open.

Venus received the trophy studded with 1,700 gems to the strains of Shirley Bassey "Diamonds are forever." She immediately went over to show off the trophy to her mother, Oracene, in the stands. She had already visited the gem district in the world's diamond cutting center early this week.

Williams' straight–set win came despite the massive support of the capacity crowd of 14,400 at the Sports Palace, which was fully behind local hero Clijsters.

"I really felt good when I saw the crowd," Clijsters said.

Williams played great tennis throughout the week, not losing a set in the US$585,000 tournament where four of the world's top five players reached the semifinals.

In an entertaining opening set, it was Clijsters who was able to force a first breakpoint in the third game, but a great serve and some good backcourt scrambling saved the American.

In the fourth game, Clijsters was still able to save two breakpoints, but two games later Williams left no more respite. After the initial breakthrough the first set followed quickly, taking just 29 minutes.

Clijsters immediately took the initiative in the second set, when a momentary lapse in concentration gave Williams' first service game away.

Williams immediately hit back though, ruthlessly exploiting the weak serve of Clijsters with a love–game to get even at 1–1.

From then on, Clijsters' backcourt game, long the backbone of her play this week, deteriorated as she started hitting balls long, wide, or straight into the net. Williams rushed into a 4–1 lead.

The once–raucous crowd grew increasingly silent, with Williams whipping balls past the Belgian.

Then a brief rally gave Clijsters and the fans a glimmer of hope again as she closed the gap to 5–4 with her own serve to come.

"I was prepared for her to fight back," Williams said.

Williams refused to let momentum slip and won the match after 80 minutes when Clijsters sent a ball wide. It was her first tournament win this year.

In the semi-final, Williams coasted to a 6–1, 6–4 victory over Slovak Daniela Hantuchova, the world's No 5, while Clijsters won an all–Belgian battle against world No 4 Justine Henin–Hardenne 6–2, 7–6 (3).

Williams has pulled out of the Dubai Open, which begins today, citing a tight schedule.

In Marseille, the Swiss player, Roger Federer, outclassed the veteran Swede, Jonas Bjorkman, in straight sets to win the Marseille Open. Federer beat the 31-year-old, who was playing in only his second final since 1998, 6-2, 7-6, to win the fifth title of his career after overcoming Bjorkman's efforts to get back into the match in the early stages of the second set.

In California, Andre Agassi was a comfortable victor over his fellow American, James Blake, 6-4, 6-1, to reach the San Jose Open final for the third year in a row on Saturday. Winning his 11th straight match of the year, the Australian Open champion was in devastating form from inside the baseline.

In last night's final, the Las Vegan was due to face Davide Sanguinetti, who defeated theunseeded American, Justin Gimelstob, 6-4, 6-7, 6-3, in the other semi-final.