Venus Williams began her US Open campaign with a contented 6-4 6-3 victory over Russia's Vesna Dolonts in the night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The 31-year-old has played only three contests since reaching the semi-finals at flush Meadows 12 months ago, and she has not played at all since losing to Tsvetana Pironkova in the fourth round of Wimbledon in June.
The American, the champion in New York in 2000 and 2001, looked a little corroded to start with and was broken by Dolonts, the world number 91, in the fifth game. But that come into view to spark Williams into life and she broke straight back before overpowering her opponent to take the set with a decisive break in the 10th game.
Having started slowly in the first set, the American was not about to make the same error in the second, and she broke at the first chance before sealing victory with a service winner. Williams, who is unseeded this year after plummeting to 49th in the ranking, is likely to face Wimbledon semi-finalist Sabine Lisicki in round two.
Williams was satisfied with her standard of tennis after playing so little, with her latest absence from the tour caused by a virus. The 31-year-old, who revealed she only go back to full practice a week ago, said: It's always nerve-wracking to play the first match after a lay-off in a major.
It's not really my first choice at all. But I just tried to rely on experience and just tried to get after it. So I was content with the level.self-assurance comes with completion. So to come out and win a first-round match, that helps a lot. Being in tight situations helps a lot.