• Madrid Open

Williams destroys Peer to reach Madrid Open final

Venus Williams needed just 66 minutes to beat Shahar Peer © Getty Images

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World No. 3 Venus Williams is the overwhelming favourite to win the Madrid Open after she drove a big hole through the challenge of Shahar Peer in Saturday's semi-final.

Williams was the only seeded player to reach the last four of the tournament, and on this form she does not look like she will be denied a clay court title ahead of the French Open after an utterly one-sided 6-3 6-0 victory. Showing superb touch as well as irrepressible power, the seven-time Grand Slam champion had her opponent beaten in every department of the match.

To be fair to Peer, the Israeli had battled through a two-and-a-half-hour contest in one of Friday's late games, and the lack of zip in her performance was evident. Williams broke on five occasions throughout the match, dropping just 12 points in total on her own serve.

The American signalled her intent with two love service games at the start of the match, breaking Peer for a 3-1 advantage. Peer briefly fought back, breaking immediately thanks to a wonderful running forehand pass, but she was constantly under pressure on her own serve.

A tame backhand into the net handed Williams her second break of the contest to allow to her serve for the first set, at which point she took complete control of the encounter.

Three consecutive breaks of the Peer serve ripped the heart out of the Israeli's challenge, winning just 12 points in the entire second set. Williams wrapped up the win when Peer slammed into the net.

The American will now face the winner of Aravane Rezai after she was handed safe passge into the final by the retirement of Lucie Safarova.

Rezai took the first set 6-1 when Safarova, clearly hampered by a problem, opted not to come out for the second set.

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