Venus Williams Wins First Round on Arthur Ashe

Written by: Global Chick on 30th August 2011

Venus Williams Wins First Round on Arthur Ashe

Venus Williams of the US lines up a return to Vesna Dolonts of Russia on the first day of the 2011 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA 29 August 2011. The US Open runs through 11 September 2011. EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT |

Two time singles US Open Champion Venus Williams won her first round match at the US Open today in straight sets 6-4 6-3 over Vesna Dolonts of Russia.

The former world number one needed one hour and 18 minutes to take care of Dolonts. The American hit six aces, she won 77 per cent of her first service points and she slammed down 28 winners.

Venus Williams’ match was the first night session match on the Arthurs Ashe Stadium court. It’s the first time in 14 years Venus is unseeded in the draw.

Dolonts broke Williams in the fifth game in the first set, but Venus broke back in the next game and then served out the set 6-4. In the second set Williams broke serve in the second game and then cruised to a 6-3 second set win.

This was Venus Williams’ 54^th win on Arthurs Ashe Stadium today. No male or female player has ever won that many matches on that same court.

Venus and Serena Williams also have two doubles titles at the US Open in 1999 and 2009.

Venus’ next opponent will be the winner of the No. 22 seed Sabine Lisicki of Germany and Alona Bondarenko of the Ukraine.