(Reuters) - Former world number one Venus Williams scraped past Karolina Pliskova to win the WTA Elite Trophy on Sunday, the American claiming her third title of the season as she secured a return to the top 10 for the first time in four years.
The top seed was forced to dig deep into her vast reservoirs of experience to stave off Pliskova's challenge and emerge a 7-5 7-6(6) winner against the gutsy Czech.
"Seven weeks here in Asia and now I feel like it's my home," Williams told the WTA website (www.wtatennis.com).
"I'm so excited to win the first trophy in Zhuhai.