Tennis superstar Venus Williams has claimed the crown on her first tour-level singles match since 2021. She kicked off her ASB Classic campaign in Auckland with a 7-6(4) 6-2 win over fellow American Katie Volynets.
Having previously come runner-up in 2014, the sportswoman won the ASB Classic for the first time in 2015. This year, however, she was granted a wild card entry into the tennis tournament.
Could this early victory foreshadow a second win for the former tennis number one?
How did Williams vs Volynets go down?
The first round of the Auckland tournament saw Williams and Volynets facing each other for the first time in their careers.
The WTA Singles 1003rd and 113th met at centre court, where the latter took an early 5-4 lead. However, Williams quickly fought back, taking a 5-0 lead in the second set.
Just three games later, the seven-time grand slam winner knocked 21-year-old Volynets out of the Auckland sports tournament.
This victory marks the first time that Williams has won a tour-level singles match since Wimbledon 2021, where she beat Romanian tennis player Mihaela Buzarnescu in a three-set thriller.
Following the win, Williams told the press that the ASB Classic is, “one of my favourite places to come, I was so excited that I made it here… I’m happy to get a win today against a great opponent,”
Who is Venus Williams’ next opponent?
Williams now advances to the Round of 16, where she will face China’s Zhu Lin. The latter is currently placed 84th in the WTA Singles Rankings and has won 10 ITF singles career titles.
Following the ASB Classic, Williams will enter into the main draw of the upcoming Australian Open. It was announced in December 2022 that she had received a wild card for the tournament.
The Australian Open begins on January 16, where Williams will be making her 23rd appearance and will be hoping for her first singles win.
Featured image credit: