Venus Williams returned from more than four months out with a wrist injury by thrashing Shahar Peer 6-1, 6-1 in the final of the Memphis International.
Venus Williams returned from more than four months out with a wrist injury by thrashing Shahar Peer 6-1, 6-1 in the final of the Memphis International.
The former world number one produced a devastating display against the Israeli top seed, breaking in the third, fifth and seventh games.
And the American sealed her first tournament win since Wimbledon 2005 with a rasping forehand winner.
Victory at the third tier event was Williams' 34th career title success.
She played just one event after Wimbledon last year - in Luxembourg in October - and had struggled for form in the early rounds in Memphis. She had slipped down the rankings to 71 because of her enforced break after Wimbledon but she is now set to move back into the top 40 from its present level of 54.
"My goal is definitely to be in the top 16 by the French Open," said the 26-year-old.
"I have three or four more tournaments before then so I think it's pretty reachable.
"I am entered in Miami, Charleston, Warsaw, Istanbul and the French. I know my schedule pretty much up to Wimbledon and If I am healthy, I'll be there."
She added: "I was thinking before I got here that I could win this, I didn't want anything less. I have nothing to prove and time and time again (sister) Serena I have come back from injury and come back just as good or better."
She will rest before her next event, the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, starting on March 19. - BBC
Venus shows no rust from layoff
Venus Williams returned from more than four months out with a wrist injury by thrashing Shahar Peer 6-1, 6-1 in the final of the Memphis International.
Venus Williams returned from more than four months out with a wrist injury by thrashing Shahar Peer 6-1, 6-1 in the final of the Memphis International.
The former world number one produced a devastating display against the Israeli top seed, breaking in the third, fifth and seventh games.
And the American sealed her first tournament win since Wimbledon 2005 with a rasping forehand winner.
Victory at the third tier event was Williams' 34th career title success.
She played just one event after Wimbledon last year - in Luxembourg in October - and had struggled for form in the early rounds in Memphis. She had slipped down the rankings to 71 because of her enforced break after Wimbledon but she is now set to move back into the top 40 from its present level of 54.
"My goal is definitely to be in the top 16 by the French Open," said the 26-year-old.
"I have three or four more tournaments before then so I think it's pretty reachable.
"I am entered in Miami, Charleston, Warsaw, Istanbul and the French. I know my schedule pretty much up to Wimbledon and If I am healthy, I'll be there."
She added: "I was thinking before I got here that I could win this, I didn't want anything less. I have nothing to prove and time and time again (sister) Serena I have come back from injury and come back just as good or better."
She will rest before her next event, the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, starting on March 19. - BBC
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