Russian star Elena Dementieva stopped Venus Williams in her tracks as she won her first Hong Kong title in four attempts, securing a 6-3, 6-2 victory in the Watsons Water Champions Challenge.
The 22-year-old world number six from Moscow proved too strong for the four-time Grand Slam champion in a lacklustre final as Williams failed to successfully defend her Hong Kong title.
Dementieva, who reached the French and US Open finals last year, scored her first victory since winning in Hasselt in Belgium last autumn.
But victory was particularly sweet for the athletic Russian, who beat one of the biggest names in women's tennis, while boosting her confidence ahead of this month's Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament of the year.
Meanwhile, Patty Schnyder fought back to deny local hope Samantha Stosur her first WTA Tour tennis title with a determined three-set victory in the Gold Coast WTA final in Australia.
The world No.14 from Switzerland claimed her ninth WTA title with a fighting 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 win to reclaim the Gold Coast crown she won in 1999.
