Venus Williams gained her first WTA Tour match for almost two years with victory over Katie Volynets within the first spherical of the ASB Classic in Auckland.
The 42-year-old, who first gained a primary tour match in 1994, opted in opposition to following youthful sister Serena into retirement and made a successful begin to 2023 by seeing off fellow American Volynets 7-6 (4) 6-2.
It ended a nine-match dropping streak on the tour for Williams relationship again to the Yarra Valley Classic in Melbourne in January 2021.
Her solely match victories in that point got here at grand slam degree, with Williams reaching the second spherical of the Australian Open and Wimbledon the identical 12 months – she misplaced all 4 matches she contested final 12 months.
Williams subsequent faces China’s Zhu Lin, who defeated Madison Brengle.
Fifteen-year-old Brenda Fruhvirtova was crushed 6-1 6-1 by third seed Leylah Fernandez however one other younger Czech made her mark, with Linda Noskova defeating third seed Daria Kasatkina 6-3 6-7 (2) 6-3 on the Adelaide International.
Emma Raducanu will start her season on Tuesday in Auckland with a first-round conflict in opposition to the older Fruhvirtova sister, 17-year-old Linda.
