Venus’ Title Is No Sweat

Venus Williams claimed her second title of 2002 when Jelena Dokic withdrew from Sunday’s final of the Gaz de France tournament because of a strained right thigh.

Williams then hinted again that she might cut her season short to concentrate on academics.

“I’d like to take the fall off and go to school,” she said.

Williams, 22, a student in fashion design at the Florida Art Institute, has said she feels torn between studies and sports.

“I am somebody who gets bored very easily and if I dedicated all my time to tennis, it would end up boring me,” Williams said.

She won her 23rd career WTA Tour title without hitting a ball.

“It’s not really like you’ve won. But I suppose you’re the last one standing,” Williams said.

The fourth-seeded Dokic said she was hurt during Saturday’s 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 semifinal victory over Monica Seles and aggravated the injury in a doubles match later that day.

“I wasn’t able to move this morning,” Dokic said Sunday.

Dokic, who called the injury a muscle tear, also pulled out of the doubles tournament at Proximus Diamond Games this week in Antwerp. She still hoped to play in the singles competition there.