Venus makes triumphant return

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams, who has not played a WTA event since pulling out of last year's US Open, made a triumphant comeback on Wednesday at the ATP/WTA Miami hardcourt tournament. Williams defeated Japan's Kimiko Date-Krumm 6-0, 6-3 in 77 minutes, firing five aces against two double faults and connecting on 56 percent of her first serves while surrendering only one service break. With the victory, Williams advanced to a second-round match against Czech third seed Petra Kvitova, who had a first-round bye. Williams announced at the US Open she had been diagnosed with the auto-immune disorder Sjogren Syndrome, an illness which saps energy and causes joint pains.