WTA this week: Venus Williams looks back, forward

• Venus Williams closes her 2012 season with a title, her first in more than two years
• "To win a title at the end of the year just makes me so excited for 2013"
• Williams also looked ahead to the offseason and especially to spending less time on the road

Venus Williams was happy -- that was hard to miss. She spoke in her languorous manner, one that belies the intensity that has led to seven major singles titles, but the laughter gave it away. She was pleased about assorted matters, including her jetsetting dog, Harold.

"He's been a big hit in Luxembourg – everybody loves him," said Williams, speaking by phone to USA TODAY Sports on Sunday. "I heard he was in the local paper today as well."

But the unfettered joy from a woman who does stoic well owed mostly to the Luxembourg Open final, where Williams, 32, beat Monica Niculescu 6-2, 6-3 to win first title since February 2010.

The win ends the longest singles title drought of her career. This 44th singles title is her first since being diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome two years ago, and it puts her one singles title ahead of fellow major winners Justine Henin and Martina Hingis. (Among active players it leaves her second to little sister Serena, who has 45.)

"I didn't actually know all that," says Williams. "But it means a lot to me. Coming back this year I didn't know what to expect. ... Obviously to win a title at the end of the year just makes me so excited for 2013."

After missing much of 2011 due to Sjogren's Syndrome and injuries then starting 2012 outside the Top 100 for the first time in 15 years, Williams will likely end the year inside the top 30 and be seeded at January's Australian Open.

Though Williams was ranked about 30 spots higher, Sunday's win took work. As she noted Niculescu is a "tough" player with a "unique" style that involves unusual spin and excellent defense.

"The key is to play aggressive but not get impatient when you have to hit four extra balls because she's so quick she's running down every ball," Williams says.

Asked specifically about her shockingly slow serves -- stats showed Williams was serving, on average, about 30 mph slower than usual -- she admitted that she reaggravated a back injury.

She first felt it before a Cincinnati semifinal, and it led her to withdraw from Beijing earlier this month. Williams didn't know what the issue was in Cincinnati. Now she does and is getting treatment.

"I just aggravated the joints in my back and have to let them calm down," she says. "(Sunday) I was a little more prepared (than in Cincinnati) and knew more what to expect. Obviously I want to serve bigger. Sometimes you have to adjust in your game."

During the trophy ceremony you could see why Williams has become a sort of elder stateswoman of women's tennis. She congratulated Niculescu for coming back from injuries -- "I know that's not easy" -- and continued:

"I love what I do, and I'm honored that so many people believe in women's tennis."

Williams is well-known for her equal prize money efforts; Billie Jean King often mentions her. Asked if the role comes easily for her, Williams laughed again.

"I don't know," she says. "I'm just being me. I mean, I am grateful. With more and more time that passes I realize what a privilege it is to play this sport. That it's great that people are interested. That it gives all of us professional athletes the opportunity to play this. And we work hard at it. We put our hearts out there. So we give our best back to the fans as well. It's quid pro quo."

***

Since the Luxembourg final marked the end of her season, Williams looked back on the year.

Some things worked out: "Obviously the main goal was to qualify for the Olympics. It was challenging to only have a couple of months to come from way outside the top 100 to the top 50. It was one of the craziest things I've ever done."

Other things didn't work out so well: "This year I wanted to be top 32 for the French (Open) and Wimbledon, and that didn't happen. A lot of my goals for the year didn't happen, but that's life. Sometimes you fall short, and you make a new goal."

She wrapped up the review of her year on an inspirational note: "Sometimes when you're coming back from injuries and illness you aren't able to do all the things you were doing before, and sometimes you focus on that too much instead of what you can accomplish. So that's what I really learned."

Williams also looked ahead to the offseason and especially to spending less time on the road. It's been a busy year, and she's had her fill of travel for a while. Her main to-do?

"My plan is to have no plans," says Williams. "I plan on sending an email out as soon as possible telling everyone I'm on vacation until further notice."

She said it like she meant it, even if she said it through laughter.