New York, March 3:

Reigning US and Australian Open champion Serena Williams beat elder sister Venus 6-4, 6-3 in the final of the made-for-television Billie Jean King Cup tennis event here.

Serena won 5-of-14 break point chances over the reigning Wimbledon champion to capture the $400,000 top prize in the four-woman event at Madison Square Garden. “It was really intense,” Serena Williams said. “She never gives up. That’s what’s so hard about playing her. She hits so hard and she runs down everything. That is what’s so frustrating about her.”

Venus, coming off titles in Dubai and Acapulco, opened by defeating Jelena Jankovic 6-4 in one no-ad scoring semi-final. Serena beat Ana Ivanovic 6-3 in the other. That set the stage for a sister act showdown in the best-of-three set final.

Serena surged ahead 5-1 before Venus rallied, but Serena opened a 5-2 lead in the second set and broke Venus in the last game, claiming the trophy on her second match point. Venus opened the door with her fifth double fault and Serena followed with a pair of forehand winners to secure the triumph.

“I tried but she was too good,” Venus said. “She just didn’t miss and I needed a little more luck.” Each of the Serbian stars received $250,000 while Venus settled for a runner-up prize of $300,000 in the $1.2 million one-day event.