World number two Vera Zvonareva crushed five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams in straight sets in Hong Kong Thursday as some of the world's top women prepared for the year's first Grand Slam.
Zvonareva's 6-4, 6-2 victory took Russia into a commanding 2-0 lead over the Americas at Hong Kong's World Team Challenge and the 26-year-old looked in scintillating form ahead of the Australian Open starting on January 17.
"It's an exciting moment for me. It's the first match of the year and I'm really happy the way I started," she said.
"Venus is a great champion and it's always a pleasure to play against her."
Zvonareva, who has 10 WTA career singles wins, was more vastly more consistent than the American in the semi-final clash in the season-opening exhibition.
Williams, 30, struggled in the chilly 3,600-seater Victoria Park stadium, getting off to a shaky start in both sets when she dropped her first service game.
The world number five turned pro 16 years ago, has amassed a staggering US $28 million in prize money and has as many years' experience on the circuit as the other three women competing on Thursday put together.