Federer downs Davydenko to claim Qatar Open title

DOHA (Reuters) - World number two Roger Federer began his season in formidable fashion by defeating holder Nikolay Davydenko 6-3 6-4 to win the Qatar Open on Saturday.

The 16-times grand slam champion proved too much for his Russian opponent, claiming a break of serve in each set to complete victory under the floodlights at the Khalifa Tennis Complex in central Doha.

Federer has improved throughout his five matches this week in Qatar, where he did not drop a set, and sealed victory in 79 minutes when Davydenko netted an attempted backhand pass to huge cheers from a capacity crowd.

It was a 67th career title for the 29-year-old, who hardly broke a sweat on another warm evening in the tiny Gulf emirate and celebrated victory with a brief smile amongst little celebration.

The Swiss served impeccably throughout, dropping just nine points on his serve as he demonstrated his solid form ahead of the season’s first grand slam, the Australian Open, which begins in Melbourne on Jan. 17.

“I’m very happy to kick-off the season today this way I think I played an amazing match...it will give me a lot of confidence for the remainder of the season,” Federer said in a courtside interview.

Davydenko, who brushed aside world number one Rafa Nadal in the previous round, struggled on the back foot during the first set as Federer moved him around the court at will with precision depth groundstrokes.

Venus Williams beaten by China’s Li in Hong Kong

Venus Williams lost to China’s Li Na 6-3, 7-6 (3) at the Hong Kong Classic exhibition tournament on Friday to complete her only warm up event for the Australian Open with two losses, but the seven-time Grand Slam champion said the matches helped prepare her for the first major of the year.

The 30-year-old American, who is returning from a left knee injury, lost her serve in the eighth game and Li held to take the first set. She continued to be pressured on her serve in the second set. She saved the first break point in the seventh game but lost the second to go down 4-3. Down 3-5, Williams saved match point, then broke in the next game to even the score at 5-5. But Li powered through the tiebreaker, securing the win with a forehand winner down the line.

The 11th-ranked Li has a 2-0 record against Williams, including a three-set win in the Australian Open quarterfinals last year that sent the top-ranked Chinese player into her first Grand Slam semifinal.

The five-time Wimbledon winner last played on the tour at the U.S. Open and before that at Wimbledon.