DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AFP) — Venus Williams put an end to the security agonies of the $2 million dollar Dubai Open yesterday when she halted the remarkable run of the pioneering Israeli, Shahar Peer.

But the defending champion had to cope with the smallest arena she has played in for many years before winning 6-1, 6-4 against the first Israeli woman athlete ever to compete in the United Arab Emirates.

Even though Peer had done more than enough, after defeating three seeds and reaching the semi-finals, to deserve a match on the centre court, the security and police deemed it safer to keep her playing on one of the outside courts.

Peer described her experience in Dubai as “different but nice”.

“I am sure I will remember this tournament for the rest of my life. I have made many friends in Dubai,” she said.

“Unfortunately I couldn’t manage to win it, which will be my dream. But there will be no complaints. I achieved a lot in this tournament, professionally and mentally and for myself.”

“I am sure for Venus it was not ideal to come to court two and I told her afterwards that I really appreciated her support,” Peer added, cognisant that her opponent had been honoured by the Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish organisation in New York in August.

“I think she has a really good heart and understands a lot of things, and I really appreciate her. It’s not ideal to be on court two, but we have to do what we have to do.”

Williams, a five-times Wimbledon champion, made the better start, hurtling through the first set in only 23 minutes.

“In the first set Shahar was making a high ratio of errors, but in the second set she didn’t and I had to dig deep,” said Venus, “and in the end my serve came to my rescue”.

Peer then found her ground-stroking rhythm, allied it to her now-famous tenacity, and came up with three games in a row to reach 3-2.

Had Venus not slowed her preparation right down in the next game and come up with some heavy first deliveries, Peer might well have gone a break of serve ahead.

Peer should have reached 4-4 when, with the whole court open at game point, she unaccountably put a forehand inside-out drive into the net from close up.

But she fought tigerishly till the end, running down many of Venus’s fiercest drives, throwing up teasing lobs, and forcing two deuces before the champion could close the match out and reach the final for the second successive year.