Former No. 1 Venus Williams did something her current world No. 1 sister Serena was unable to do this week in Dubai — defeat Alize Cornet, and in impressive style, steamrolling the Frenchwoman 6-3, 6-0 in the final of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
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Cornet entering the event had an 0-28 streak against Top 10 players before toppling Top 10er Simona Halep in the first round. She then snapped her 0-17 streak against Top 4 players with a defeat of Serena Williams in the semifinals.

Venus exacted revenge by pummeling the diminutive Cornet off the court for her 45th career title.

“I was fully expecting to play Serena [in the final], so for [Cornet] to get that win was awesome,” Venus said. “But I have had a good week. Everything is falling together pretty much, is all I can say.”

It was doubted that the elder Williams sister could ever again play top-level tennis after contracting the energy-sapping Sjogren’s Syndrome, and needed a wildcard to get into the Dubai field. She has now won the Dubai title the last three times she has contested the event — 2014, and 2010-09.

“I think the last tournament I won was at the end of 2012, so probably about 18 months now,” said Williams, who did not drop a set during the tournament week, on her last trophy run. “But it feels good. That’s all I can say.”

Cornet said Williams’ attack never gave her a chance to get a foothold in the match.

“She was just better than me — that’s it, really there’s nothing else to say,” Cornet said. “She was playing more aggressively. She was pushing me out of the court very far from the baseline. I didn’t play as deep as yesterday and didn’t serve as well — but Venus played well the whole week and deserves this title.”