Dubai, Feb 26: Second seed Venus Williams overcame a tough challenge from Australian Alicia Molik 6-3 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals of the Dubai Open yesterday.
Possessing a big serve and heavy groundstrokes, the powerful Molik provided difficult opposition for Williams, who was playing only her fifth match after nearly seven months out injured.
Williams, who received a first-round bye, struggled to put her first serve into play and was punished by some fine returns on the second.
The American came under early pressure against Molik when she was forced to hold off two break points at 1-1. But Williams stole the only break of the set in the next game when Molik put a forehand wide.
Williams held the upper hand in the second set but failed to convert her opportunities. She allowed Molik to recover from 40-0 down in the opening game and wasted three more break points during the seventh game.



The 23-year-old then had to fight off a break point before holding for 4-4. A weak service game from Molik allowed Williams to break to love and serve out for victory.



Williams made her comeback from an abdomen injury at the Australian Open last month, where she lost to Lisa Raymond in the third round.



She then played one match at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo before defaulting her quarter-final against Chanda Rubin with a knee injury.


Bureau Report