Venus Williams reaches quarterfinals of Hong Kong Open

Posted October 15, 2015 7:00 am

The Associated Press

Venus Williams of the United States hits a return shot against Wang Yafan of China during the second round match at the WTA Hong Kong Open tennis tournament in Hong Kong, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) The Associated Press

HONG KONG (AP) - Venus Williams advanced to the quarterfinals of the Hong Kong Open by beating Wang Yafan of China 6-0, 6-2 Thursday.

The 35-year-old Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, won the Wuhan Open this month. Another win this week would bring her closer to qualifying for the season-ending WTA Finals in Singapore.

"She is young and will learn," Williams said of the 21-year-old Wang. "She will find out that at this level the ball comes back faster and this is something she will have to cope with."

Williams will next play eighth-seeded Alize Cornet of France, who defeated Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-4.

Also, seventh-seeded Caroline Garcia of France beat Anastasiya Komardina of Russia 6-0, 6-2, and second-seeded Angelique Kerber of Germany defeated Kurumi Nara of Japan 6-2, 6-2.

Wang Yafan of China hits a return shot against Venus Williams of the United States during the second round match at the WTA Hong Kong Open tennis tournament in Hong Kong, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) The Associated Press

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