LUXEMBOURG (AP) — Venus Williams won her first WTA tournament in more than two years, beating Monica Niculescu of Romania 6-2, 6-3 to take the Luxembourg Open title on Sunday.
Slowed by injuries and illness for two seasons, Williams showed she still had the winning touch and played steady tennis while Niculescu proved error-prone as she sought her first career victory.
At 32, Williams won her 44th singles title in a career that includes seven Grand Slam victories.
The 70th-ranked Niculescu lost in the Luxembourg Open final for the second straight year.
Williams, now ranked No. 41, had not won a tournament since early 2010, when she took the titles in Dubai and Acapulco.
