Venus Williams is close to her best again, according to Ana Ivanovic, the former world number one from Serbia, who managed to take only three games off the seven times former Grand Slam winner at the Dubai Open.
The 33-year-old American was certainly impressive in the second round clash which saw her romp to a 6-2, 6-1 victory and a place in the quarter-finals.
Despite her age, low ranking which sees her outside the world top 40, and repeated health problems, she produced such consistently controlled power that she was unlike the player whom Ivanovic had beaten in the final at Auckland last month.
Her ground strokes were punishing and her serve was consistent, which brought 19 clean winners and five aces in a difficult breeze, but she also had few unforced errors, so often a thermometer of her game.
Asked how close to the best Venus Williams this is, Ivanovic said: "I think it's very close. We played many times in the past. This is her game, you know.
"She was being really aggressive and playing really deep on both wings. I tried even to maybe slice a few, but I just didn't feel like I had too many opportunities."
It followed Venus' similarly impressive performance on Monday when she overcame Elena Vesnina, a Russian she had never previously beaten, all of which encourages her to believe that she is making real progress.
