Venus wins 44th career title

Luxemburg - US veteran Venus Williams won a 44th career title on Sunday when she brushed aside unheralded Romanian Monica Niculescu in straight sets in the Luxembourg Open final.

Playing in the 71st final of her career the 32-year-old Williams won through 6-2, 6-3 in her first meeting with the 25-year-old from Bucharest.

Niculescu, who was runner-up in 2011, made the final by seeing off Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia 6-1, 6-3.