Second seed Venus Williams survived a second-set scare to edge past Sania Mirza in the second round of the Family Circle Cup in Charleston.

BOTH Venus Williams and Maria Sharapova made light work of their first-round opponents at Wimbledon — before then reigniting the debate over equal prize money.

Kim Clijsters was handed a walkover into the third round after her opponent Viktoria Kutuzova was forced to withdraw because of a viral infection.

Venus Williams will begin the defence of her Wimbledon crown on Centre Court later today – while world number one Amelie Mauresmo is also in action for the first time as she prepares for an opening match on the “graveyard of champions”.

Kim Clijsters booked her place in the second round with a 7-5 6-3 victory over Vera Zvonareva – but the number two seed had to fight for every point.