Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.

Revitalized Venus Williams has turned back the clock, now guaranteed to make a return of the ranking top 10 by virtue of her 7-5, 7-6(6) defeat of Czech Karolina Pliskova in the final of the WTA Elite Trophy in Zhuhai, southern China.

Williams, aged 35, beat an opponent 12 years her junior and will likely be happy to get home after a long run in the region which also yielded a title last month in Wuhan. “Seven weeks here in Asia and now I feel like it’s my home. I’m so excited to win the first trophy in Zhuhai. Congratulations to Karolina. She deserved to win too – I was really lucky to win at the end.”

Williams concluded her best campaign in recent memory. It’s the first time she has won three titles in a season since 2008; she now owns 48 career titles after her success at the final of the second-tier event featuring ninth through 19th-placed finishers on the WTA.

Williams took just over two hours to claim the trophy in the coastal metropolis, It was her second trophy in a month in China after winning Wuhan and was added to her Auckland honor from January.

“It’s a great thing to be Top 10 now with the level of the game, but I’m still very hungry. I’m ready for more,” said Williams, “I’ve had so many experiences in tennis that I still expect a lot from myself. I’m very happy to be moving forward, but I want to continue, and not stop here.”

Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.