Venus Williams beats Israeli outsider Shahar Peer to reach Dubai final

Venus Williams quelled fears of a security nightmare when she halted the inspired run of Shahar Peer, the first Israeli woman athlete ever to compete in the United Arab Emirates. But she was required to undertake an uncomfortable and sometimes bizarre journey to do it. The five times former Wimbledon champion was ushered into the smallest arena since the haziest of her long-ago memories, before dispatching Peer 6-1, 6-4 to reach the final of the Dubai Open. Even while she was practising on the outside court, a large and straggling crocodile was zig-zagging away from the main stadium: spectators who preferred cramming into the small galleries at one end of three outside courts to watch Williams using centre court tickets they had bought in some cases weeks in advance. With the furore over the refusal to grant Peer a visa here last year, and the assassination of a Hamas leader in a hotel less than 300 metres away last month, it was considered essential to be doing everything possible – and sometimes more – to assist her safety. One important upside is that a former Israeli soldier has made Arab friends and generated worldwide publicity for the success of her visit. Downsides included inevitable moments of temper and annoyance from spectators suffering inconveniences, the inability to take bottles of water into baking hot, unsheltered seats, and Stacey Allaster, the WTA chief executive, watching such a crucial match through the side-netting of an adjacent court. Asked if the unusual ambience had affected her, Williams replied in her most diplomatic mode: "I am one of the most non-sensitive players you'll ever meet," she said, before adding a little implausibly: "I can hardly tell the differences between courts if they're fast or slow." Her point was that nothing bothers her, and certainly little did until Peer, whose tenacity has been amazing, rediscovered the rhythmic ground-stroking, scampering court coverage, and ferocious focus which accounted for three seeds but had eluded her in the first set. When she did, she took three games in a row, the last containing nine deuces, to reach 3-2, and then threatened to break back for 4-4 and 5-5, before Williams, who served the better of the two, prevailed. "It was a different experience, but a nice one," Peer said. "I'm sure I will remember this tournament for the rest of my life. Unfortunately, I couldn't manage to win it, which would be my dream, actually. But there are no complaints. I think I achieved a lot professionally and also mentally for myself, for my inside, you know?" After all this, Williams's attempts to complete the defence of her title against Victoria Azarenka, the world No6 from Belarus, tomorrow may be an anti-climax. But without doubt it is one the tournament will prefer.