A fatigued Williams team would lose their first round night doubles match after both competing in singles matches earlier in the day. An error-prone Serena Williams would also lose in the semifinals to Cornet to prevent the all-Williams singles final.

On Monday of the tournament week, in the first round, Venus Williams hit 10 aces in defeating Elena Vesnina of Russia 6-3, 6-2. Williams, slowed by a back injury last year, entered Dubai ranked 44th but left the tournament ranked 29th after jumping up 15 places in the WTA Tour rankings.

Williams would need a WTA Tour ranking of 32 or better to ensure a seeding at the French Open and Wimbledon which would also mean not facing another seeded player until the third round.

The number 15 seemed to be Williams' lucky number in Dubai this year as the final round was also the American's 15th Dubai singles match win in a row. Williams first took the Dubai singles title in 2010 and then again in 2011. However the American was not healthy enough in 2012 and 2013 to compete.

In the second round Williams stopped Ivanovic 6-2, 6-1, winning a stunning 100% of her first serves.

"She served well in Auckland," Ivanovic said. "But today she was putting even more pressure on me."

Venus Williams plays tonight in the second round at 8:00pm EST USA at the Sony Open Tennis tournament at Miami, Florida.