Friday, April 4, 2025

Venus makes it to Dubai semis in straight sets

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DUBAI: Venus Williams continued to raise hopes of a return to the top echelons with her third straight sets win in a row and a place in the semi-finals of the Dubai Open on Thursday

The seven-times former Grand Slam winner overcame Flavia Pennetta, the seed-destroying Italian, 6-4, 7-5 with a mixed performance which included a slow start and a tense finish but some typically powerful ground stroking during the guts of the match.

However, she failed to serve out for the match at 5-4 and then went love-40 down when she attempted to close it out at 6-5, and there were suggestions she might have been getting low on energy.

Pennetta looked threatening late in the match, earning two break points at 3-4 in the second set, and became even more dangerous when she converted a break point to get back from 3-5 to 5-5. But ultimately Pennetta could not find her best when it mattered most, allowing Venus to escape.

Venus next plays Caroline Wozniacki, the former world number one from Denmark. (Agencies)

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