By Chris Davies
January 8 2005

Russian Elena Dementieva claimed a huge boost to the start of her 2005 campaign by claiming the Hong Kong Watsons Championships with a straight sets victory over Venus Williams of the USA, 6-3 6-2. The Russian who had previously on in the exhibition beat fellow countrywoman Maria Sharapova broke the Williams serve 3 times in the first set claiming 6-3 and 6-2 in the second set.

Williams who is the defending champion overcame Svetlana Kuznetsova in a tough 3 set battle yesterday ending in a tie-break did not show the form that brought her to the final.

Other players to attend this exhibition over the week included Vera Zvonareva and Nicole Vaidisova, but it was Dementieva who claimed the title with a 6-3, 6-2 victory.

The world number 6 later stated "It's really a great start to the year no matter whether it's an exhibition or not. I was trying to play my best and I really did it"

"This will give me all the confidence before the Grand Slams. I was trying so hard to win this tournament."

Williams was very disapointed with the way she played: "She played some nice points, but it was mostly me committing unforced errors - four or five errors in each game," she said.