HONG KONG — Venus Williams saw her chance of qualifying for the season-ending WTA Finals slip away Saturday after losing in straight sets to Jelena Jankovic of Serbia in the semifinals of the Hong Kong Open.
Seven-time Grand Slam champion Williams, seeded third, was defeated 6-4, 7-5 in a tense encounter which lasted 2 hours, 4 minutes in front of a packed center court at Victoria Park.
"It is disappointing. I had an off day while she probably played one of her best matches this year," Williams said.
The 35-year-old Williams needed to reach the final on Sunday to boost her chances of playing in the lucrative WTA Finals, starting Oct.