ZURICH // Venus Williams defeated the unseeded Italian Flavia Pennetta 7-6 6-2 in today's Zurich Open final to all but guarantee the American a place at the season-ending WTA Championships in Doha.
The third seed Williams, who had lost her last three meetings with Pennetta, took full control of their latest encounter after rampaging through the first set tiebreak 7-1.
Today's victory will lift Williams comfortably clear of rivals Vera Zvonareva and Agnieszka Radwanska in the race for the last two Doha qualifying spots when the latest standings are published tomorrow.
Radwanska, in the worst position of the trio, will now have to win both the remaining tournaments in Linz and Quebec, where she is not currently entered, to deny Williams a place at the finale.
In keeping with her previous poor record against Pennetta, Williams was made to work hard during the opening stages of the match with neither player offering up a single break point during the first set.
The subsequent tiebreak proved surprisingly one-sided, however, with Williams storming into a 6-0 lead after forcing two early errors from her opponent with a couple of powerful groundstrokes directly to Pennetta's feet.
After losing the tiebreak, Pennetta could find no way back.
Dropping her serve for the first time in the third game of the second set, she then had to watch as Williams fired in four straight aces to lead 3-1.
Following a further break of the Italian's serve, Williams was denied her first chance to wrap up the match when a Pennetta backhand on match point which looked long was controversially ruled in.
Williams kept her cool, hitting a fierce winner to the corner of the court before producing a final service winner.
*Reuters
Race card
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
6pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-2 Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 2,200m
6.30pm: Liwa Oaisi Group 2 (PA) Dh300,000 1,400m
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,600m
The National selections: 5pm: Flit Al Maury, 5.30pm: Sadah, 6pm: RB Seqondtonone, 6.30pm: RB Money To Burn, 7pm: SS Jalmood, 7.30pm: Dalaalaat
Racecard
6.30pm: The Madjani Stakes (PA) Group 3 Dh175,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m
7.40pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 (D) 1,200m
8.50pm: Dubai Creek Mile (TB) Listed Dh265,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 (D) 1,600m
The National selections
6.30pm: Chaddad
7.05pm: Down On Da Bayou
7.40pm: Mass Media
8.15pm: Rafal
8.50pm: Yulong Warrior
9.25pm: Chiefdom
Blonde
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Emergency phone numbers in the UAE
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.