Venus makes return to Grand Slam action

Venus Williams returned to the Grand Slam arena today looking sprightly and enthusiastic, if a touch rusty, as she breezed through to the second round of the Australian Open in straight sets.

The number three seed suffered an abdominal strain at Wimbledon last year, had not played a competitive match since and also suffered the personal heart-ache of losing her half-sister who was shot in Los Angeles.

But she won the Hong Kong invitational, earned a promotion from her world ranking of 11 to enter as third seed and proved why with a comprehensive victory over Ashley Harkleroad 6-2 6-1.

“I was real excited to be out there today,” she said.

“I was pretty satisfied with the match. It was a little sentimental, but at the time I was focused in on my performance.

“Afterwards it was really just a breath of fresh air, just like ‘Oh yes, I’m back now. I’m doing good.”

Williams suffered a slight ankle injury, but has no major concerns about it affecting her during the rest of this fortnight.

“I was going for a swing volley and I twisted my right ankle, so I will just monitor it and see how it goes.

“I am not anticipating it will be so bad.”

Unlike the opening day, the women’s seeds were all following Williams’ lead in advancing unscathed.

Russian Anastasia Myskina (6) came through 6-2 7-5 against Sweden’s Sofia Arvidsson and will meet Swiss world number 60 Emmanuelle Gagliardi.

Japan’s Ai Sugiyama (8) ousted Tatiana Panova, one of the numerous Russians in the draw, 6-4 6-2 while there were also victories for Paolo Suarez (12), Anna Smashnova-Pistolesi (14), Francesca Schiavone (18), Patty Schnyder (22), Lina Krasnoroutskaya (23), Lisa Raymond (25) and Amanda Coetzer (27).