PARIS, Feb. 10 (UPI) -- Venus Williams claimed her second tennis title of the young year Sunday when an injured Jelena Dokic was unable to compete in the final of the $585,000 Open Gaz de France because of a strained right thigh.
Williams, the top seed from the United States, earned $93,000 without playing a point when Sunday's match was canceled.
"I was ready to play Jelena, mentally and physically but it happens and it's something that tournaments and players know," Williams said. "I'm happy to be the winner, despite no final, it's always nice to be the last one standing."
Dokic sustained a right adductor strain in the third set of her semifinal against Monica Seles on Saturday. The ailment became worse in the evening when the fourth seed from Yugoslavia played her doubles semifinals with a thigh wrap.
Sunday morning, Dokic had a MRI examination and the WTA Tour medical staff and tournament doctor determined the 18-year-old was unfit to play the final.
"It didn't hurt too badly at first, as I was still warm," Dokic said. "I went on to play the doubles (with Magdalena Maleeva) but towards the end of that match, I could hardly walk and it was hurting a lot. I had treatment straight away and this morning, the doctor saw me again and there was no doubt I couldn't play."
Dokic, 18, was playing in only her second event of the year. She will receive more treatment in the hopes she will be ready to play her second-round match at the Proximus Diamond games in Antwerp on Thursday.
Despite her disappointing finish, Dokic will rise to a career-high No. 6 when the rankings are released on Monday.
Williams has won five of her last six tournaments dating to last season. She finished 2001 with three straight titles, including her fourth Grand Slam triumph at the U.S. Open, and started this season with a win at the Australian Women's Hardcourts in Gold Coast. The 21-year-old American got her 23rd career tournament triumph.
The final was replaced with a mixed doubles exhibition featuring former men's player Yannick Noah and last year's winner Amelie Mauresmo of France against Williams and ATP senior tour's Mansour Bahrami of Iran.
The doubles final also was canceled as Russian Elena Dementieva, who was playing with Janette Husarova of Slovakia, withdrew due to bronchitis and pharyingitis with fever. France's Nathalie Dechy and American Meilen Tu were declared the winners.
