DOHA - Venus Williams, without a title in 16 months and beaten here as early as the second round, believes she still has what it takes to succeed at the highest level - and has the desire to prove it. The seven-time Grand Slam champion cut a defiant figure despite her depressingly persistent fitness issues and missing a match point on Wednesday against Petra Kvitova, the world No 6 from the Czech Republic. Venus's place as a legend of the sport is assured and, since she is aged 33 and enduring intermittent effects of Sjogrens syndrome, an auto-immune deficiency, some people wonder why she still forces herself on. "I play tennis because I feel like I'm good at it. I know I'm good at it, and I have to keep giving myself a chance and just keep going forward," Venus responded.–Agencies