Venus thrashes Ivanovic in Dubai

Venus Williams prevailed in the battle of former world number ones when the American thrashed Ana Ivanovic 6-2, 6-1 in the second round of the Dubai Championships.

Williams showed the form that once delivered her seven Grand Slam titles. Ivanovic could not take advantage of the two break-point opportunities Williams offered in the sixth game of the first set.

Williams, a wild card, lost only seven total points in her other six service games.

Williams will now take on  Italian qualifier Flavia Pennetta who stunned second-seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland 6-4, 6-1.

Radwanska, the 2012 Dubai champion, also was ousted in the second round at the Qatar Open in Doha last week.

Eighth-seed Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, another former world number one, defeated Annika Beck of Germany 6-4, 6-4.

“It wasn’t easy at all,” said Wozniacki. “I didn’t serve very well but, you know, I started off pretty well and you think, oh, that’s that first set under the belt but she’s a fighter.”